batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l1114-l1189
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l1114-l1189
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS / THE KORAN. / PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE / SECTION I.;
lines 1114-1189
start: '1114'
end: '1189'
translation: The Koran (Al-Qur'an)
notes: Generated from OpenAI Batch run motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority;
human review required.
canonical_text:
quote: ''
summary: The passage corrects claims about Mohammed's burial place and discusses
Arab tribes descended from Noah's line, especially Ad and Thamud. It recounts
the city and garden of Irem, the prophet Hud's mission to the idolatrous Adites,
their destruction by a suffocating wind after drought and refusal to heed him,
survivors associated with Lokman, reports of giant stature, and the sending of
Salih to the Thamud.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage states that Mohammed's tomb was at Medina, not Mecca, and rejects
the claim that Muslims are obliged to visit it once in life.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The tribe of Ad is described as descended from Ad, son of Aws, son of Aram,
son of Sem, son of Noah, and as settling in the winding sands of Hadramaut after
the confusion of tongues.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Shedd, son of Ad, is said to have completed a magnificent city with a palace
and gardens in order to inspire veneration of himself as a god.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The garden or paradise of Irem is described as mentioned in the Koran and
alluded to by oriental writers.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The city of Irem is said to still stand in the deserts of Aden, preserved
as a monument of divine justice, but normally invisible unless God permits it
to be seen.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Colabah is said to have found the city while seeking a lost camel, entered
it, found no inhabitants, and took fine stones as proof.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: The descendants of Ad are said to have fallen from worship of the true God
into idolatry.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: God sent the prophet Hud to preach to the Adites and reclaim them.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: After the Adites refused Hud's mission and obedience, God sent a hot suffocating
wind that blew seven nights and eight days, entered their nostrils, passed through
their bodies, and destroyed them all except a few believers who withdrew with
Hud.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Before their destruction, the Adites were afflicted with four years of drought,
causing their cattle to perish and bringing them near death.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:11
text: The Adites sent Lokman and sixty others to Mecca to beg for rain; Lokman and
some companions stayed there and escaped destruction.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: The escaped group is said to have given rise to a tribe called the latter
Ad, who were afterward changed into monkeys.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:13
text: Some commentators are reported to say that the old Adites were of prodigious
stature, with the largest 100 cubits high and the least 60.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: The tribe of Thamud is described as descended from Thamud, son of Gather,
son of Aram; after falling into idolatry, the prophet Salih was sent to restore
them to worship of the true God.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: Founder-prophet whose tomb is stated to be at Medina, not Mecca.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Mohammedans
description: Muslims described as not being under obligation to visit Mohammed's
tomb.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Ad
description: Ancestor of the tribe of Ad, placed in the lineage of Aws, Aram, Sem,
and Noah.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Shedd, son of Ad
description: First king of the Adites who is said to have completed a magnificent
city, palace, and gardens.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: The Adites / descendants of Ad
description: A tribe said to have multiplied in Hadramaut, fallen into idolatry,
refused Hud, and been destroyed except for a few believers.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: God
description: The deity who preserves Irem, sends Hud, afflicts the Adites with drought,
and destroys the disobedient by wind.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Colabah
description: A man who claimed to have seen the invisible city of Irem while seeking
a lost camel.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Hud
description: Prophet sent to reclaim the Adites; afterward said to have been buried
near Hasec.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Lokman
description: Envoy sent with sixty others to Mecca to beg for rain; stayed there
with some companions and escaped destruction.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: The latter Ad
description: A later tribe said to arise from survivors associated with Lokman and
afterward changed into monkeys.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Thamud
description: Ancestor or eponym of the tribe of Thamud, son of Gather, son of Aram.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: The Thamudites / tribe of Thamud
description: A tribe said to have fallen into idolatry before the prophet Salih
was sent to them.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: Salih
description: Prophet sent to the tribe of Thamud to bring them back to worship of
the true God.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: buried founder-prophet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage discusses the correct location of Mohammed's tomb and rejects
claims about visiting it at Mecca.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: religious community discussed in relation to tomb visitation
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The passage says Mohammedans are under no obligation to visit Mohammed's
tomb.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: tribal ancestor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:11
basis: Ad and Thamud are each presented as ancestors or eponyms in genealogies of
tribes.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: king and city-builder seeking veneration
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Shedd is described as first king and builder of a palace and gardens intended
to create veneration of himself as a god.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: idolatrous people subject to prophetic warning
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:12
basis: Both Ad and Thamud are said to have fallen into idolatry and to have prophets
sent to them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: divine judge and sender of signs
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: God preserves Irem, sends Hud, sends drought, and destroys the unresponsive
Adites by wind.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: rare witness to hidden city
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Colabah claims to have unexpectedly entered the normally invisible city and
taken stones from it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: prophetic reformer
assigned_to:
- fig:8
- fig:13
basis: Hud and Salih are each described as sent to bring idolatrous peoples back
to worship of the true God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: envoy for rain and survivor
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Lokman is sent to Mecca to beg rain and escapes destruction by remaining
there.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: transformed survivor-descendant group
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The latter Ad are said to arise from survivors and later be changed into
monkeys.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tomb at Medina
literal_form: Mohammed's tomb or sepulchre at Medina
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: garden of Irem
literal_form: garden or paradise attached to the magnificent city built by Shedd
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: hidden city of Irem
literal_form: city standing in the deserts of Aden, preserved but usually invisible
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: fine stones from Irem
literal_form: stones taken by Colabah from the deserted city and shown to the Khalif
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: suffocating wind
literal_form: hot wind blowing seven nights and eight days and entering the bodies
of the Adites
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:6
label: drought and rain-seeking
literal_form: four-year drought and mission to Mecca to beg rain
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: monkey transformation
literal_form: the latter Ad being changed into monkeys
associated_figures:
- fig:10
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:8
label: giant stature
literal_form: old Adites described as 60 to 100 cubits high
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Correction of tomb-location and pilgrimage claims
summary: The passage rejects reports that Mohammed was buried at Mecca and denies
that Muslims are obliged to visit his tomb once in life.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Genealogy and settlement of Ad
summary: Ad is placed in a Noahic genealogy, and his descendants settle in the winding
sands of Hadramaut after the confusion of tongues.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Shedd builds Irem
summary: Shedd completes a magnificent city, palace, and garden or paradise, intending
to foster veneration of himself as a god.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:4
label: Colabah enters the hidden city
summary: Colabah, while searching for a lost camel, unexpectedly reaches the gates
of the preserved but normally invisible city, finds it empty, and takes stones
from it.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:5
label: Hud warns the Adites and the wind destroys them
summary: After the Adites fall into idolatry and reject Hud, God sends a suffocating
wind lasting seven nights and eight days; only a few believers who withdrew with
Hud survive.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:6
label: Drought and mission for rain
summary: Before the final punishment, the Adites endure four years of drought; Lokman
and others are sent to Mecca to beg for rain, and some survive by remaining there.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:7
label: Giant Adites and introduction of Thamud
summary: Some commentators are said to describe the old Adites as giants, and the
passage introduces the idolatry of Thamud and the sending of Salih.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:11
- fig:12
- fig:13
symbol_refs:
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: divine punishment of an idolatrous people after rejected prophetic warning
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Adites reject Hud's mission after falling into idolatry, and God destroys
them by a suffocating wind while preserving a few believers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is a later discourse summarizing traditions rather than a
direct narrative from the Koran itself.
- id: motif:2
label: hidden ruined city preserved as a sign of judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Irem is said to remain in the desert as a monument of divine justice, normally
invisible unless God permits it to be seen.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The city is described through reports of eastern writers, and the passage
frames details as fabulous or legendary.
- id: motif:3
label: prideful king builds paradise-like city to receive divine veneration
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Shedd builds a magnificent palace and gardens to create superstitious veneration
of himself as a god.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference is approximate; the passage emphasizes illegitimate
self-deification rather than legitimate kingship.
- id: motif:4
label: drought as divine warning before destruction
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: God afflicts the Adites with four years of drought before the final wind-destruction,
intending to humble them and make them heed the prophet.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not describe a successful repentance or restoration.
- id: motif:5
label: mission to sacred place to obtain rain
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_exchange
basis: The Adites send Lokman and sixty others to Mecca to beg rain during a destructive
drought.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage does not specify ritual details or an explicit exchange beyond
petitioning for rain.
- id: motif:6
label: survivor group transformed into monkeys
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: The latter Ad, arising from those who escaped destruction, are said to have
been afterward changed into monkeys.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: low
cautions: The available taxonomy term 'shapeshifter' may imply voluntary transformation,
while the passage only says the group was changed.
- id: motif:7
label: ancient giant race
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Some commentators are reported to assign the old Adites extraordinary heights
of 60 to 100 cubits.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage attributes this to some commentators and does not narrate
an action involving the giants.
- id: motif:8
label: prophet sent to restore an idolatrous tribe
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Hud is sent to Ad and Salih is sent to Thamud after each people falls into
idolatry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The Thamud section is only introduced in this line range; their subsequent
response is not included here.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage reports, but rejects, a comparison that both Christians and Mohammedans
were religiously obliged to visit the tomb of their faith's founder once in life.
claim_level: same_function
target: founder-tomb visitation obligation in Christian and Mohammedan practice
as reported by the Abbot de Vertot
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
limitations: The comparison is presented as another writer's mistaken claim and
is explicitly denied for Mohammedans by the passage's author.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage identifies Hud with Heber according to general agreement and
notes Jewish recognition of Heber as a great prophet.
claim_level: same_function
target: Hud and Heber as prophetic figures
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The identification is reported by the author and footnote tradition;
the passage does not provide linguistic or narrative evidence for the equation.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 1114-1134
quote_or_summary: The passage corrects writers who place Mohammed's tomb at Mecca,
states the tomb was at Medina, and denies that Mohammedans are obliged to visit
it once in life.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 1141-1153
quote_or_summary: Ad is placed in a Noahic genealogy and his descendants settle
in Hadramaut; Shedd completes a magnificent city with palace and gardens to cultivate
veneration of himself as a god; the garden is called Irem.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 1153-1160
quote_or_summary: The city of Irem is said to remain in the deserts of Aden as a
monument of divine justice, normally invisible unless God allows it to be seen;
Colabah claims to have entered it while seeking a lost camel and taken stones
from it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 1161-1170
quote_or_summary: The descendants of Ad fall into idolatry; God sends Hud to reclaim
them; after refusal, God sends a hot suffocating wind for seven nights and eight
days, destroying all except a few believers who withdrew with Hud.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 1170-1179
quote_or_summary: Before the final punishment, God afflicts the Adites with four
years of drought; they send Lokman and sixty others to Mecca to beg rain; some
remain there and escape, giving rise to the latter Ad, who are later changed into
monkeys.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 1180-1189
quote_or_summary: Some commentators describe the old Adites as 60 to 100 cubits
tall; the tribe of Thamud is introduced as descendants of Thamud son of Gather
son of Aram, and Salih is sent to restore them from idolatry.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The extraction is based only on the supplied line range. Some traditions
are presented by the source as reports from commentators or oriental writers,
so motifs involving Irem, giant stature, and transformation require 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: '2026-04-28'
notes: |-
All observations and motifs are derived from the provided passage and metadata only.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l1114-l1189
passage_sha256=c0092ec815bf68dac0b7f002ae65f20a358573ed2ba4660e163bc3df4efb46b4