batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l22234-l22361
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l22234-l22361
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 22234-22361
start: '22234'
end: '22361'
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 exhorts believers to almsgiving, faith, restraint from covetousness,
and pursuit of divine pardon and Paradise. It contrasts believers with deniers,
describes worldly life as transient like plants after rain, states that events
are written in a Book, and presents apostles as sent with tokens, scripture, balance,
and iron. It recalls Noah, Abraham, Jesus son of Mary, the Evangel, and the later
conduct of followers. The passage then begins Sura IV with commands concerning
creation from one soul, reverence for kinship, orphan property, marriage limits,
dowry, and guardianship of property.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Men and women who give alms and lend a generous loan to God are promised doubled
repayment and a noble recompense.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Those who believe in God and his apostle are described as truthful and as
witnesses before their Lord, while deniers of the signs are described as inmates
of Hell.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Worldly life is described as sport, pastime, show, vainglory, and multiplication
of riches and children.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Worldly flourishing is compared to plants springing up after rain, rejoicing
the husbandman, then withering, yellowing, and becoming stubble.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The next life is described as including either severe chastisement or pardon
from God and divine satisfaction.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The audience is urged to hasten after pardon and Paradise, whose breadth is
compared to the breadth of Heaven and Earth.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: No mischance on earth or in persons is said to occur unless it was already
in the Book before creation.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Apostles are said to have been sent with clear tokens, and the Book and the
balance are said to have descended with them so that people might observe fairness.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Iron is said to have been sent down, with dire evil and also advantage for
humankind.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Noah and Abraham are named as earlier sent figures, and prophecy and the Book
are said to have been conferred on their seed.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: Jesus son of Mary is said to follow earlier apostles, to receive the Evangel,
and to have followers in whose hearts kindness and compassion were placed.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Monastic life is described as something Jesus' followers invented themselves;
the desire to please God is said to have been prescribed, but not fully observed.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Believers are promised two portions of mercy, light to walk in, and forgiveness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:14
text: At the start of Sura IV, humans are addressed as created from one soul, with
that soul's wife created from it, and many men and women spread from the pair.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:15
text: The audience is commanded to give orphans their property, avoid consuming
it wrongfully, test orphans until marriageable age, and hand over their property
when sound judgment is perceived.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:16
text: The passage gives rules for marriage with women, dowry, and the conduct of
guardians over property entrusted for support.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: Divine speaker and giver of recompense, pardon, bounty, mercy, scripture,
balance, iron, prophecy, and judgment.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Believers
description: Those who believe in God and his apostle, give alms, seek pardon, and
are promised recompense, light, mercy, and forgiveness.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:9
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Infidels / deniers of signs
description: Those who give the lie to the signs and are described as inmates of
Hell.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Apostles
description: Messengers sent with clear tokens, the Book, and the balance.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Noah
description: Earlier sent figure named with Abraham; prophecy and the Book are conferred
on their seed.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Abraham
description: Earlier sent figure named with Noah; prophecy and the Book are conferred
on their seed.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Jesus son of Mary
description: Follower of earlier apostles who is given the Evangel.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Followers of Jesus
description: Those in whose hearts kindness and compassion are placed; some believe
and receive reward, while many are called perverse.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: People of the Book
description: A group addressed as needing to know that they do not control God's
favours and that grace is in God's hands.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Orphans
description: Persons whose property is to be protected, tested, and eventually handed
over when sound judgment is perceived.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Guardians
description: Persons entrusted with the substance of dependents and instructed how
to maintain, clothe, speak to, and manage property for them.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Women
description: Persons mentioned in rules concerning marriage and dowry in the opening
of Sura IV.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: giver of recompense and pardon
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is said to double the generous loan, give noble recompense, grant pardon,
and forgive.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:9
- id: role:2
label: sender of revelation and instruments of fairness
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God sends apostles and causes the Book and balance to descend so that people
may observe fairness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:3
label: sovereign holder of grace
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Favours and gifts of grace are said to be in God's hands and given to whom
he will.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:4
label: recipient of light and reward
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Believers are promised recompense, light, mercy, and forgiveness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: recipient of punishment
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Deniers of signs are called inmates of Hell.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: messenger with tokens and scripture
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Apostles are sent with clear tokens, the Book, and the balance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: prophetic predecessor
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
basis: Noah, Abraham, and Jesus are placed in a sequence of earlier sent figures
and revelations.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: recipient of the Evangel
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Jesus son of Mary is explicitly said to be given the Evangel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: religious followers with compassion and imperfect observance
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The followers of Jesus are associated with kindness and compassion, invented
monastic life, and did not observe as prescribed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: community addressed about divine favours
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The People of the Book are told they have no control over God's favours.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:11
label: protected dependent property-holder
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Orphans' property is to be preserved and returned when they are judged capable.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:12
label: property steward
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Guardians are instructed in maintaining dependents and handling entrusted
substance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:13
label: marriage and dowry party
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Women are mentioned in rules for marriage number and dowry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: generous loan to God
literal_form: almsgiving described as a loan to God
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: light
literal_form: light given to believers and used for walking
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: sym:3
label: Hell
literal_form: place whose inmates are deniers of signs
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: rain and plants
literal_form: plants springing after rain, then withering into yellow stubble
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Paradise
literal_form: Paradise whose outspread is as the outspread of Heaven and Earth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: the Book of decrees
literal_form: Book in which mischance is recorded before creation
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: the Book and the balance
literal_form: scripture and balance sent down with apostles so people may observe
fairness
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: iron
literal_form: iron sent down, containing dire evil and advantage for humankind
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:9
label: Evangel
literal_form: revelation given to Jesus son of Mary
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:10
label: one soul and wife
literal_form: one man or soul and the wife created from it
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: sym:11
label: orphan property
literal_form: substance or property belonging to orphans and dependents
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Almsgiving and recompense
summary: Believing men and women are urged toward almsgiving, described as a generous
loan to God that will be doubled and rewarded.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Judgment of believers and deniers
summary: Believers are linked with truth, witness, recompense, and light; deniers
of signs are linked with Hell.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Transience of worldly life
summary: Worldly life is compared to vegetation that flourishes after rain and then
withers into stubble; the next life is contrasted as punishment or divine pardon.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Hastening to pardon and Paradise
summary: The audience is urged to hasten toward pardon and a vast Paradise prepared
for those who believe.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Predestined mischance in the Book
summary: Misfortune on earth or in persons is said to be already recorded in the
Book before creation, so people should not despair or exult excessively.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Apostles, Book, balance, and iron
summary: Apostles are sent with tokens; the Book and balance descend for fairness,
and iron descends with both harm and benefit.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Prophetic lineage from Noah and Abraham to Jesus
summary: Noah and Abraham are named as earlier sent figures, their seed receives
prophecy and the Book, and Jesus receives the Evangel; his followers are associated
with compassion and disputed observance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: scene:8
label: Grace, light, and the People of the Book
summary: Believers are promised mercy, light, and forgiveness, while the People
of the Book are told that God's favours remain in God's hands.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: scene:9
label: Creation and social ordinances in Sura IV
summary: Humans are described as descended from one soul and its wife, followed
by commands on orphan property, marriage, dowry, and stewardship of dependents'
substance.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:10
- fig:11
- fig:12
symbol_refs:
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Almsgiving as sacred exchange
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: Almsgiving is framed as a loan to God that is doubled and repaid with noble
recompense.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents the exchange in devotional and ethical terms; it
does not narrate a mythic bargain scene.
- id: motif:2
label: Divine judgment after death
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Believers receive recompense and light, deniers are inmates of Hell, and
the next life includes severe chastisement or pardon.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives exhortational descriptions rather than a detailed judgment
narrative.
- id: motif:3
label: Paradise as afterlife destination
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: The audience is told to hasten after pardon and Paradise, which is described
as vast and prepared for believers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: No itinerary or full map of the afterlife journey is supplied in this
passage.
- id: motif:4
label: Transient world as withering vegetation
taxonomy_refs:
- seasonal_cycle
basis: Worldly life and increase are compared to plants that grow after rain and
then wither, yellow, and become stubble.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The image is an ethical simile of impermanence, not a full seasonal myth.
- id: motif:5
label: Revealed wisdom and just measure
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Apostles bring clear tokens, the Book, and the balance so that people may
observe fairness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy assignment is based on scripture and justice as revealed
guidance; no personified wisdom figure appears.
- id: motif:6
label: Prophetic succession and scriptural continuity
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Noah, Abraham, their seed, Jesus, the Evangel, and the People of the Book
are placed in a sequence of divine sending and revelation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The word covenant is not used in the passage; the motif is inferred from
continuity of divine sending and gifts.
- id: motif:7
label: First human pair and human kinship
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Sura IV opens by saying humans were created from one soul, its wife from
it, and many men and women from the two.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy family directly names first-pair creation; taxonomy
refs are left empty.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly aligns Noah, Abraham, Jesus, the Evangel, and the
People of the Book within a shared pattern of prophetic sending and revealed scripture.
claim_level: same_function
target: Prophetic and scriptural traditions associated with the People of the Book
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage supports functional continuity within named scriptural
communities, but it does not by itself establish historical contact details beyond
the named figures and groups.
- id: claim:2
claim: The opening of Sura IV presents a first-pair human-origin pattern by deriving
many men and women from one soul and its wife.
claim_level: same_motif
target: First human pair origin pattern
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage does not name the first pair or provide a full creation
narrative in this excerpt.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 22234-22236
quote_or_summary: Those who give alms, men and women, and lend a generous loan to
God are promised doubled repayment and noble recompense.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 22238-22242
quote_or_summary: Believers in God and his apostle are described as truthful witnesses
with recompense and light; deniers of signs are inmates of Hell.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 22244-22251
quote_or_summary: Worldly life is compared to plants after rain that grow, wither,
yellow, and become stubble; the next life includes severe chastisement or pardon
and satisfaction from God.
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 22253-22257
quote_or_summary: The audience is told to hasten after pardon and Paradise, described
as vast as Heaven and Earth and prepared for believers.
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 22259-22266
quote_or_summary: No mischance happens on earth or in persons except that it was
in the Book before creation; this teaching is linked to moderation in grief and
joy.
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 22270-22275
quote_or_summary: Apostles are sent with clear tokens; the Book and balance descend
for fairness; iron is sent down with evil and advantage for humankind.
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 22277-22279
quote_or_summary: Noah and Abraham are named; prophecy and the Book are conferred
on their seed, with some guided and many evildoers.
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 22281-22288
quote_or_summary: Jesus son of Mary follows earlier apostles and receives the Evangel;
his followers receive kindness and compassion, invent monastic life, and vary
in belief and conduct.
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 22290-22297
quote_or_summary: Believers are promised two portions of mercy, light to walk in,
and forgiveness; the People of the Book are told God's favours and grace are in
God's hands.
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 22329-22333
quote_or_summary: Humans are told to fear their Lord, who created them from one
soul, created its wife from it, and spread many men and women from the two.
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 22335-22361
quote_or_summary: The passage commands fair treatment of orphans' property, regulates
marriage and dowry, and instructs guardians about maintaining dependents and handing
over property when sound judgment is reached.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is a translation excerpt spanning the end of one sura and the
start of Sura IV, including footnotes. Extraction is based only on the supplied
text and line locator; motif assignments are conservative and require human review.
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 were used only where they clarify the supplied passage; no external sources were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l22234-l22361
passage_sha256=be096c9b81ad9282f168166a43a11ad1d2f6d09db61d038e8501e24c5654a9ab