batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l17182-l17320
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l17182-l17320
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
passage_locator:
label: PUBLIC SERVICES, / AND EMINENT LITERARY ATTAINMENTS, / THE TRANSLATOR. /
PREFACE; lines 17182-17320
start: '17182'
end: '17320'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an), Rodwell translation
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage warns against denying divine signs, recounts a person who abandoned
signs and was followed by Satan, describes divine guidance and misguidance, Hell,
the unknown Hour, Muhammad's limited role as warner, creation from a single person
and wife, human ingratitude through associating partners with God, the inability
of those partners to help or perceive, and commands to seek refuge in God, heed
the Koran, remember God, and worship humbly.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage rejects an excuse based on ancestral association of other gods
with God and says divine signs are made clear so that people may return to God.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: An unnamed person received divine signs, departed from them, was followed
by Satan, and became one of the seduced.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The unnamed person's likeness is compared to a dog that lolls out its tongue
whether chased away or left alone.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Those whom God guides are called guided, while those whom God misleads are
called lost.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Many of the Djinn and men are described as created for Hell and as having
hearts, eyes, and ears that do not understand, see, or hear.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: God is said to have excellent titles by which people should call on Him, and
those who pervert His titles are to be repaid for what they have done.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: A people created by God are described as guiding others with truth and acting
justly.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Those who treat divine signs as lies are to be brought down gradually by means
they do not know, while God lengthens their days.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Muhammad is described as not djinn-possessed and as having the office of plain
warner.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The Hour is said to be known only to God, to be manifested only by Him, and
to come suddenly.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Muhammad says he has no control over what helps or harms him except as God
wills and does not possess knowledge of God's secrets.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: God created people from a single person and brought forth that person's wife;
after conception, the pair prayed for a perfect child and promised thankfulness.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: After receiving a perfect child, the pair are said to have joined partners
with God in return for what He gave them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: The supposed partners with God are described as unable to create, help others,
help themselves, follow guidance, answer prayer, walk with feet, hold with hands,
see with eyes, or hear with ears.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:15
text: God is described as the sender of the Book and the protector of the righteous.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:16
text: When stirred by evil from Satan, the addressee is commanded to seek refuge
in God; those who fear God remember Him when touched by a phantom from Satan and
then see clearly.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: obs:17
text: When the Koran is read, listeners are commanded to listen and keep silence,
and the addressee is told to remember God inwardly at evening and morning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
- id: obs:18
text: Those around the Lord are described as not disdaining His service, praising
Him, and prostrating themselves before Him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: The Lord who gives signs, guides or misleads, knows the Hour, creates,
sends down the Book, protects the righteous, hears, and knows.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:12
- ev:13
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Unnamed recipient of signs
description: A person to whom signs were vouchsafed, who departed from them and
was followed by Satan.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Satan
description: A figure who follows the one who departs from signs and whose stirrings
or phantom can touch people.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:13
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Muhammad
description: The companion of the audience, described as not djinn-possessed and
as a plain warner and announcer of good tidings to believers.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Djinn and men created for Hell
description: Many of the Djinn and men, described as having hearts, eyes, and ears
that do not understand, see, or hear.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: People who guide with truth
description: A people created by God who guide others with truth and act justly.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Single person
description: The first person from whom God created the audience and from whom God
brought forth a wife.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Wife of the single person
description: The wife brought forth from the single person, who bears a burden in
pregnancy and joins in prayer for a perfect child.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Perfect child
description: A child requested from God and then given by God.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Joined partners or joint gods
description: Beings called on beside God, described as created servants without
power to create, answer, help, hear, or see.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Those around the Lord
description: Beings around the Lord who praise Him, serve Him, and prostrate themselves
before Him.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
roles:
- id: role:1
label: creator
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is said to have created people from a single person and to have made
all things.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:10
- id: role:2
label: guide and misleader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage states that whom God guides is guided and whom He misleads is
lost.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: judge and requiter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage describes repayment, Hell, the Hour, and the bringing down of
those who deny signs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:4
label: apostate recipient of signs
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The person received signs, departed from them, and became seduced.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: seducer or tempter
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Satan follows the person who departs from signs and stirs evil or touches
people with a phantom.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:13
- id: role:6
label: warner and announcer of good tidings
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Muhammad is described as a plain warner and as an announcer of good tidings
to believers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: role:7
label: heedless destined for Hell
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Many Djinn and men are described as created for Hell and unable to understand,
see, or hear with their faculties.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:8
label: just guides
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: They guide others with truth and act justly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: first human pair and supplicants
assigned_to:
- fig:7
- fig:8
basis: The single person and wife are described as the origin of the audience and
as praying together for a perfect child.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:10
label: divine gift child
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The child is requested from God and then given by God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:11
label: powerless false partners
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The joined partners are described as unable to create, answer, help, hear,
or see.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:12
label: heavenly worshippers
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: They are around the Lord, serve Him, praise Him, and prostrate themselves.
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: divine signs
literal_form: signs vouchsafed by God and rejected or followed by humans
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: dog with lolling tongue
literal_form: dog that lolls out its tongue whether chased or left alone
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: hearts, eyes, and ears without understanding
literal_form: hearts, eyes, and ears possessed by Djinn and men but not used to
understand, see, or hear
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: the Hour
literal_form: the unknown appointed time whose knowledge belongs to God and which
comes suddenly
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: the Book or Koran
literal_form: the Book sent down by God and the Koran read aloud to listeners
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:14
- id: sym:6
label: single person and wife
literal_form: one person from whom a wife is brought forth
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:7
label: perfect child
literal_form: child requested in prayer and given by God
associated_figures:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:8
label: powerless limbs and senses of false gods
literal_form: feet, hands, eyes, and ears named in questions about the joint gods'
inability to act or perceive
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:9
label: phantom from Satan
literal_form: a Satanic phantom or stirring that touches those who fear God before
they remember Him
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: sym:10
label: prostration
literal_form: prostration by those around the Lord
associated_figures:
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Ancestral excuse and clarified signs
summary: The passage presents an objection based on ancestral idolatry and states
that signs are clarified so that people may return to God.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: The man who abandons signs
summary: An unnamed recipient of signs departs from them, is followed by Satan,
becomes seduced, and is likened to a dog with a lolling tongue.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Guidance, loss, and heedlessness
summary: God's guidance and misguidance are stated, and many Djinn and men are described
as destined for Hell because they do not understand, see, or hear.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Judgment on deniers and Muhammad's warning role
summary: Those who deny signs are warned of gradual downfall, while Muhammad is
identified as a plain warner rather than djinn-possessed.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Question about the Hour
summary: The addressees ask about the Hour; Muhammad is told to say that its knowledge
belongs only to God and that it will come suddenly.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: First pair, child, and ingratitude
summary: God creates people from a single person and wife; the pair pray for a perfect
child, receive one, and then join partners with God.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: scene:7
label: Powerlessness of the joint gods
summary: The passage challenges those called on beside God by listing their inability
to create, answer, help, walk, hold, see, or hear.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: scene:8
label: Refuge from Satan and clearer sight
summary: The addressee is commanded to seek refuge in God from Satanic stirrings;
those who fear God remember Him and see clearly after a Satanic touch.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
- id: scene:9
label: Hearing the Koran and worship around the Lord
summary: Listeners are told to be silent when the Koran is read and to remember
God inwardly; those around the Lord praise and prostrate before Him.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: rejection of divine signs and resulting judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Repeated statements describe those who treat signs as lies as self-injuring,
gradually brought down, repaid, lost, or made for Hell.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is exhortative and theological; motif labeling should not
overextend beyond the stated judgment language.
- id: motif:2
label: temptation after receiving sacred knowledge
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
- wisdom
basis: An unnamed person receives signs, departs from them, is followed by Satan,
and becomes seduced.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The text does not identify the signs as forbidden knowledge; the taxonomy
link to forbidden knowledge is only partial because the core action is abandonment
of received signs.
- id: motif:3
label: sudden eschatological Hour known only to God
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Hour's timing is said to be known only by God and to come suddenly upon
people.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives no detailed afterlife journey map in this excerpt.
- id: motif:4
label: creation from a single person and paired spouse
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_birth
basis: People are described as created from a single person, with a wife brought
forth from him, followed by pregnancy, prayer, and the birth of a perfect child.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: 'The taxonomy reference is approximate: the child is a divine gift after
prayer, but the passage does not describe a miraculous conception or named sacred
birth.'
- id: motif:5
label: powerless idols or false divine partners
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Those called on beside God are described as created servants with no power
to create, answer, help, hear, or see.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
confidence: medium
cautions: This is a polemic against false partners rather than a narrative episode
with developed mythic characters.
- id: motif:6
label: remembrance as protection from Satanic prompting
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: When touched by a phantom from Satan, those who fear God remember Him and
then see clearly.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
confidence: medium
cautions: The wisdom motif is broad; the passage frames the practice as piety and
refuge rather than a quest for hidden wisdom.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 17182-17186
quote_or_summary: The passage presents an ancestral-idolatry excuse and says God
makes signs clear so that people may return to Him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 17187-17196
quote_or_summary: A man was given signs, departed from them, Satan followed him,
and his likeness is said to be like a dog that lolls out its tongue.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt summarized with minimal quotation.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 17200-17201
quote_or_summary: The guided are those whom God guides, while those whom He misleads
are lost.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 17203-17208
quote_or_summary: Many Djinn and men are described as created for Hell and as possessing
hearts, eyes, and ears that do not understand, see, or hear.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 17210-17216
quote_or_summary: God has excellent titles; those who pervert them are to be repaid,
while a created people guide with truth and act justly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 17218-17221
quote_or_summary: Those who treat signs as lies will be gradually brought down,
while God lengthens their days and His stratagem proves effective.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 17223-17229
quote_or_summary: Muhammad is described as not djinn-possessed but as a plain warner;
the audience is urged to consider heaven, earth, and all God has made.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 17233-17240
quote_or_summary: When asked about the Hour, Muhammad is told to say its knowledge
is only with God and that it will come suddenly.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 17242-17247
quote_or_summary: Muhammad says he has no control over benefit or harm except as
God wills, lacks knowledge of God's secrets, and is only a warner and announcer
of good tidings.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 17249-17256
quote_or_summary: God creates from a single person and brings forth his wife; after
pregnancy they pray for a perfect child, receive one, and join partners with God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 17258-17270
quote_or_summary: The joined partners are challenged as unable to create, help,
answer, walk with feet, hold with hands, see with eyes, or hear with ears.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 17272-17278
quote_or_summary: God is said to have sent down the Book and to protect the righteous;
those called on beside Him cannot help, hear, or see.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 17280-17288
quote_or_summary: The addressee is told to enjoin justice, withdraw from the ignorant,
seek refuge in God from Satanic stirrings, and remember God when touched by a
Satanic phantom.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:14
type: summary
locator: lines 17290-17304
quote_or_summary: The passage says revelation follows the Lord's utterances, commands
silence when the Koran is read, enjoins inward remembrance of God, and describes
those around the Lord praising and prostrating.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward from the English passage. Motif taxonomy
links are cautious because the passage is primarily exhortative and theological
rather than a continuous myth narrative. No comparison claims were made from this
excerpt.
reviewer_status:
status: needs_review
reviewer: ''
reviewed_at: ''
notes: Machine-generated draft from OpenAI Batch; not human-reviewed.
extracted_by: openai_batch:gpt-5.5
extracted_at: '2026-04-29'
notes: |-
Footnotes following the excerpt were not used for comparison claims because the visible notes do not clearly anchor a comparison to the selected passage segment.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l17182-l17320
passage_sha256=bab7ad5d78c50ff12440c144af0c2ad158be0e9445604393350cb970e36e260b