batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l6881-l7048
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg-l6881-l7048
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 6881-7048
start: '6881'
end: '7048'
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 closes a prior section by distinguishing believers who do good
and defend themselves when unjustly treated from unjust opponents. It then includes
translator notes, followed by the opening of Sura XV, Hedjr. The sura presents
the signs of the Book and warning, the eventual regret of infidels, fixed terms
for destroyed cities, mockery of the warned messenger, divine guardianship of
the warning, earlier apostles being derided, a hypothetical heavenly ascent still
rejected by unbelievers, the adorned and guarded heavens, Satanic eavesdropping
pursued by flame, the spread earth with mountains, measured sustenance, winds
and rain, divine power over life, death, and gathering, and the creation of man
from clay and the djinn from fire, with angels commanded to bow to fashioned man
after the divine breath is given.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Those who believe, do good works, remember God often, and defend themselves
when unjustly treated are excepted from the preceding condemnation; those who
treat them unjustly are said to face an awaited lot.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage says infidels will wish they had been Muslims and are allowed
to feast, enjoy themselves, and be beguiled by hope until they know the truth.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: No city is destroyed before its appointed term, and no people can forestall
or delay its destiny.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:4
text: Opponents address the warned person as one to whom the warning has been sent
down, call him possessed by a djinn, and demand angels as proof of truthfulness.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:5
text: The passage states that angels are not sent down without due cause and that,
in such a case, the infidels would not be respited.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The warning is said to have been sent down by the speaking divine voice, which
also states it will guard the warning.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Apostles had already been sent among earlier groups, but every apostle who
came to them was derided.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: If a gate in Heaven were opened above the unbelievers and they were mounting
up to it, they would still say their eyes were drunken and that they were enchanted.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Signs of the zodiac are set in the heavens and adorned for beholders; the
heavens are guarded from every stoned Satan, except one who steals a hearing and
is pursued by a visible flame.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: The earth is spread forth, mountains are placed on it, and everything is caused
to spring forth in balanced measure.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: Sustenance is provided for humans and for creatures not sustained by humans;
all things have storehouses with the divine speaker and are sent down in settled
measure.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:12
text: Fertilising winds are sent forth, rain is caused to descend from heaven, and
humans are given to drink of it while not being its storers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:13
text: The divine speaker causes life and death, is the heir of all things, knows
those who come first and later, and will gather them together again.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:14
text: Man is created from dried clay and dark molded loam; the djinn had previously
been created from subtle fire.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:15
text: The Lord tells the angels that after fashioning man and breathing of the divine
spirit into him, they are to fall down and worship him; the angels bow down all
together.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God / Lord / divine speaker
description: The speaker who sends and guards the warning, creates, sustains, causes
life and death, gathers, and commands the angels.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:11
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Believers who do good works
description: People who believe, do good works, remember God often, and defend themselves
when unjustly treated.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Unjust opponents / infidels / sinners of Mecca
description: Opposing people described as unjust, infidels, sinners of Mecca, and
unbelievers who mock, demand signs, and would reject even a heavenly ascent.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: The warned addressee
description: The person addressed by opponents as the one to whom the warning has
been sent down.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Angels
description: Heavenly beings whom opponents request as proof and whom the Lord commands
to bow before fashioned man; they bow all together.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Earlier apostles
description: Apostles sent before among ancient groups and derided by those to whom
they came.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Stoned Satan
description: A Satan excluded from the guarded heavens.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: One who steals a hearing
description: A being excepted from the guarding of heaven who steals a hearing and
is pursued by a visible flame.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Man
description: A human figure created from dried clay and dark molded loam, then fashioned
and given divine breath before the angels are commanded to bow.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Djinn
description: Beings created before man from subtle fire; a djinn is also named in
the opponents' accusation that the warned person is possessed.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine revealer and guardian
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The warning is sent down and guarded by the divine speaker.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: creator and sustainer
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The divine speaker spreads the earth, places mountains, sends sustenance,
winds, and rain, and creates man and djinn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- ev:11
- id: role:3
label: lord of life, death, and gathering
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says the divine speaker causes life and death and will gather
people together again.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:4
label: righteous defended community
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They believe, do good works, remember God, and defend themselves when unjustly
treated.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: mocking or unbelieving opponents
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They unjustly treat believers, are called infidels or sinners, mock the messenger,
and reject signs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: recipient of warning
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Opponents call him the one to whom the warning has been sent down.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: heavenly beings commanded to bow
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The angels are commanded to bow to fashioned man after divine breath and
then bow all together.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
- id: role:8
label: derided messengers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Earlier apostles come to ancient groups and are derided.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:9
label: excluded heavenly adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The heavens are guarded from every stoned Satan.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: heavenly eavesdropper
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The figure steals a hearing and is pursued by a visible flame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: clay-formed human recipient of divine breath
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Man is created from clay and loam, fashioned, and given divine breath.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:12
label: fiery prehuman beings
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The djinn are said to have been created before man from subtle fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: the Book and warning
literal_form: Signs of the Book, lucid recital, and warning sent down and guarded
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- id: sym:2
label: gate in Heaven
literal_form: A gate opened above the unbelievers in Heaven while they mount up
to it
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:3
label: zodiac signs in the heavens
literal_form: Signs of the zodiac set in the heavens, adorned and decked forth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: visible pursuing flame
literal_form: A visible flame pursuing the one who steals a hearing
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: mountains on the spread earth
literal_form: Mountains thrown upon the spread earth
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: rain water from heaven
literal_form: Rain sent down from heaven and given for drink
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:7
label: storehouses and settled measure
literal_form: Storehouses of all things with the divine speaker, sent down in settled
measure
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:8
label: clay and dark molded loam
literal_form: Dried clay and dark loam molded as the material of man
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:9
label: subtle fire
literal_form: Subtle fire as the material from which the djinn were created
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:10
label: divine breath
literal_form: The Lord breathing of the divine spirit into fashioned man
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:11
label: angelic bowing
literal_form: Angels falling down and worshipping fashioned man
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Righteous exception and recompense for injustice
summary: Believers who do good, remember God, and defend themselves when wronged
are distinguished from unjust people, who are said to face an awaited lot.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Warning rejected by infidels
summary: The sura opens with the signs of the Book and says infidels will eventually
wish they had been Muslims, while present enjoyment and hope delay their recognition
of truth.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Fixed destiny of destroyed cities
summary: Cities are destroyed only at appointed terms, and peoples cannot advance
or delay their destiny.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Mockery of the warned messenger
summary: Opponents accuse the warned person of being possessed by a djinn and demand
angels, while the passage says angels are not sent without due cause.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Guarded revelation and derided apostles
summary: The divine speaker says the warning has been sent down and guarded, and
recalls earlier apostles who were derided by ancient groups.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Heavenly gate still rejected
summary: Even if a gate in Heaven were opened and unbelievers mounted up through
it, they would interpret the experience as drunken sight or enchantment.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Adorned and guarded heavens
summary: The heavens contain adorned zodiac signs and are guarded from every stoned
Satan, while a hearing-stealer is pursued by visible flame.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Measured earth, sustenance, winds, and rain
summary: The earth is spread with mountains and balanced growth; sustenance is provided
from divine storehouses in measure, and fertilising winds bring rain for drink.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:9
label: Life, death, and gathering
summary: The divine speaker causes life and death, knows earlier and later generations,
and will gather them together again.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: scene:10
label: Creation of man, djinn, and angelic bowing
summary: Man is created from clay and molded loam, while the djinn had been created
before from fire; after man is fashioned and receives divine breath, angels are
commanded to worship him and bow together.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
- sym:9
- sym:10
- sym:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine judgment and fixed destiny
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Unjust people face an awaited lot; cities have appointed terms, and peoples
cannot forestall or delay destiny.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage states judgment and destiny directly, but does not narrate
a specific city's destruction here.
- id: motif:2
label: Resurrectional gathering after life and death
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: The divine speaker causes life and death and says the Lord will gather them
together again.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The mechanics of resurrection are not described in this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: Heavenly ascent rejected as enchantment
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: A heavenly gate is opened and the unbelievers mount up, yet they claim drunken
sight or enchantment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The ascent is hypothetical rather than an actual journey narrated as completed.
- id: motif:4
label: Forbidden or stolen heavenly hearing
taxonomy_refs:
- forbidden_knowledge
basis: A being steals a hearing in heaven and is pursued by a visible flame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage explicitly names stolen hearing, but the broader 'forbidden
knowledge' classification is a taxonomy-level interpretation.
- id: motif:5
label: Guarded revelation or preserved warning
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: The warning and Book are presented as divine signs, sent down and guarded
by the divine speaker.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact 'revelation' motif family; 'wisdom'
is only an approximate family reference.
- id: motif:6
label: Cosmic ordering and measured provision
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The heavens are adorned and guarded; the earth is spread with mountains,
growth, storehouses, measured sending, winds, and rain.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: No exact available taxonomy family for creation or cosmic provisioning
was supplied.
- id: motif:7
label: Human fashioned from clay and given divine breath
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Man is created from clay and loam, fashioned, given divine breath, and honored
by angelic bowing.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- ev:12
confidence: high
cautions: No exact available taxonomy family for anthropogonic creation was supplied.
- id: motif:8
label: Fiery origin of djinn
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The djinn are said to have been created before man from subtle fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
confidence: high
cautions: This is a creation detail rather than a full narrative episode in the
excerpt.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6881-6884
quote_or_summary: Believers who do good, remember God often, and defend themselves
when unjustly treated are excepted; those who treat them unjustly will find what
lot awaits them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 6943-6952
quote_or_summary: Sura XV begins with the signs of the Book and lucid recital; infidels
will wish they had been Muslims, while present feasting, enjoyment, and hope delay
recognition.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 6954-6957
quote_or_summary: '"We never destroyed a city whose term was not prefixed"; no people
can forestall or retard destiny.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6959-6966
quote_or_summary: Opponents call the warned person possessed by a djinn and demand
angels; the response says angels are not sent down without due cause and would
bring no respite.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6968-6977
quote_or_summary: The warning has been sent down and will be guarded; apostles were
sent before among ancient groups but were derided, and sinners of Mecca will not
believe.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6979-6984
quote_or_summary: Even if a gate in Heaven were opened and the unbelievers were
mounting up to it, they would say their eyes were drunken and that they were enchanted.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6986-6992
quote_or_summary: The signs of the zodiac are set in the heavens and adorned; the
heavens are guarded from every stoned Satan, except one who steals a hearing and
is pursued by a visible flame.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6994-7002
quote_or_summary: The earth is spread forth, mountains placed on it, balanced growth
caused, sustenance provided, and all things held in storehouses and sent down
in settled measure.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 7004-7006
quote_or_summary: Fertilising winds are sent forth, rain descends from heaven, and
humans are given drink but are not its storers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 7008-7012
quote_or_summary: The divine speaker causes life and death, is the heir of all things,
knows earlier and later people, and the Lord will gather them together again.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 7014-7023
quote_or_summary: Man is created from dried clay and dark molded loam; the djinn
were created before from subtle fire; the Lord says that after fashioning man
and breathing of divine spirit into him, the angels should fall down and worship
him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:12
type: quote
locator: line 7025
quote_or_summary: '"And the Angels bowed down in worship, all of them, all together"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-rodwell.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the Sura XV portion. Motif taxonomy mapping
is partly approximate because the supplied taxonomy lacks exact creation, revelation,
and cosmic-ordering categories. No comparison claims were made because the main
extracted narrative does not itself require cross-tradition comparison.
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: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
Translator footnotes appear in the supplied range, but motif extraction focuses on the narrative and doctrinal content present in the quoted passage rather than on external comparisons in notes.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-rodwell-gutenberg__l6881-l7048
passage_sha256=b95ce76fb55a6955956c950a7cc15c77b8beb5dbc5e70e5415e580a34a6ba8aa