Comparative mythology corpus

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l15123-l15206

batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l15123-l15206

---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l15123-l15206
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
  label: CHAPTER V. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER VI. / IN THE
    NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 15123-15206
  start: '15123'
  end: '15206'
  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: Translator notes discuss Abraham's movement from an idolatrous background
    to knowledge of the true God, including examination of heavenly bodies and parallels
    in Jewish sources. The Qur'anic passage then describes divinely guided persons
    given scripture, wisdom, and prophecy; commands the prophet to preach without
    recompense; presents the book sent to Moses and the blessed book sent down for
    Mecca; and warns against fabricated revelation, depicting the ungodly at death
    being addressed by angels and receiving punishment.
  language: English
  quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
  text: Abraham's parents are described in the note as idolaters, and Abraham is said
    to have left idolatry after coming to knowledge of the true God.
  category: relationship
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:2
  text: The note says Abraham was educated in the Sabian religion, characterized there
    as chiefly worship of the heavenly bodies.
  category: setting
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:3
  text: Abraham is described as examining heavenly bodies to test whether they deserved
    worship.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: obs:4
  text: The note says Abraham inferred a superior power from changes observed in earth,
    sea, sun, moon, and other celestial bodies.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
- id: obs:5
  text: The Qur'anic passage says God chose and directed certain fathers, issue, and
    brethren into the right way.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:6
  text: The passage states that idolatry would make their works fruitless.
  category: attribute
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:7
  text: Certain persons are said to have been given scripture, wisdom, and prophecy.
  category: object
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: obs:8
  text: The speaker is instructed to say that he asks no recompense for preaching
    the Koran.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: obs:9
  text: The book brought by Moses is described as a light and direction for men, transcribed
    on papers, with some parts published and much concealed.
  category: object
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: obs:10
  text: A blessed book is said to have been sent down confirming prior revelation
    and to be delivered for preaching to Mecca and its surroundings.
  category: object
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:11
  text: Those who believe in the next life are said to believe in the book and observe
    prayer times.
  category: action
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: obs:12
  text: The passage condemns forging lies about God, falsely claiming revelation,
    and claiming the ability to produce a revelation like God's.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:13
  text: The ungodly are depicted in the pangs of death while angels reach out their
    hands and command them to cast forth their souls.
  category: sequence
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: obs:14
  text: The ungodly are told they will receive ignominious punishment for false speech
    about God and proud rejection of God's signs.
  category: speech
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
  name_or_label: Abraham
  description: A figure described in the notes as coming from an idolatrous family
    background, leaving idolatry, and examining heavenly bodies in relation to knowledge
    of the true God.
  role_refs:
  - role:1
  - role:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: fig:2
  name_or_label: God
  description: The deity who directs servants, gives scripture, wisdom, and prophecy,
    sends down books, and punishes false speech and rejection of signs.
  role_refs:
  - role:3
  - role:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: fig:3
  name_or_label: Moses
  description: The figure who brought a book described as light and direction for
    men.
  role_refs:
  - role:5
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: fig:4
  name_or_label: Mohammed
  description: The passage says people have been taught by Mohammed what they and
    their fathers did not know; the prophet is instructed to preach the Koran without
    recompense.
  role_refs:
  - role:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: fig:5
  name_or_label: inhabitants of Mecca
  description: The addressed audience to whom the speaker is told to say he asks no
    recompense for preaching the Koran.
  role_refs:
  - role:7
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: fig:6
  name_or_label: chosen and directed persons
  description: Unnamed persons, with their fathers, issue, and brethren, described
    as chosen, directed, and given scripture, wisdom, and prophecy.
  role_refs:
  - role:8
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: fig:7
  name_or_label: angels
  description: Beings who reach out their hands to the ungodly at death and tell them
    to cast forth their souls.
  role_refs:
  - role:9
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: fig:8
  name_or_label: ungodly
  description: Persons depicted in the pangs of death and condemned for false speech
    about God and rejection of signs.
  role_refs:
  - role:10
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
  label: former idolater or one from an idolatrous background
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: The note says Abraham's parents were idolaters and discusses his leaving
    idolatry.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
- id: role:2
  label: seeker of true divine knowledge
  assigned_to:
  - fig:1
  basis: The note describes Abraham examining heavenly bodies and inferring a superior
    power.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: role:3
  label: divine guide
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: The passage says God directs such servants as he pleases.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: role:4
  label: sender of revelation and judge
  assigned_to:
  - fig:2
  basis: The passage attributes revealed books to God and threatens punishment for
    falsehood about God and rejection of signs.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  - ev:6
  - ev:7
- id: role:5
  label: bearer of earlier book
  assigned_to:
  - fig:3
  basis: The passage refers to the book which Moses brought.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: role:6
  label: preacher and teacher
  assigned_to:
  - fig:4
  basis: The speaker is told to preach without recompense, and the passage says people
    were taught by Mohammed.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  - ev:5
- id: role:7
  label: addressed audience
  assigned_to:
  - fig:5
  basis: The speaker is told to address the inhabitants of Mecca about recompense
    for preaching.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: role:8
  label: recipients of guidance, scripture, wisdom, and prophecy
  assigned_to:
  - fig:6
  basis: The passage says they were chosen, directed, and given scripture, wisdom,
    and prophecy.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: role:9
  label: deathbed executors or messengers
  assigned_to:
  - fig:7
  basis: The angels reach out their hands at the death of the ungodly and command
    them to cast forth their souls.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: role:10
  label: condemned false claimants
  assigned_to:
  - fig:8
  basis: The ungodly are linked with false speech about God and proud rejection of
    signs, and receive punishment.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
  label: heavenly bodies
  literal_form: planet, sun, moon, and other celestial bodies
  associated_figures:
  - fig:1
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: sym:2
  label: book of Moses
  literal_form: book described as light and direction, transcribed on papers
  associated_figures:
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: sym:3
  label: blessed book sent down
  literal_form: book confirming earlier revelation and delivered for preaching to
    Mecca and nearby people
  associated_figures:
  - fig:2
  - fig:4
  - fig:5
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: sym:4
  label: scripture, wisdom, and prophecy
  literal_form: divine gifts given to the directed persons
  associated_figures:
  - fig:2
  - fig:6
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: sym:5
  label: angels' outstretched hands
  literal_form: angels reaching out their hands at the pangs of death
  associated_figures:
  - fig:7
  - fig:8
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
- id: sym:6
  label: souls cast forth
  literal_form: the command to cast forth souls during death pangs
  associated_figures:
  - fig:7
  - fig:8
  taxonomy_refs: []
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
  label: Abraham examines heavenly bodies
  summary: The translator note presents Abraham as coming from an idolatrous background
    and examining the heavenly bodies as part of his movement toward knowledge of
    the true God.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:1
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:1
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
- id: scene:2
  label: Divine guidance and prophetic gifts
  summary: God is said to choose and direct certain persons and give them scripture,
    wisdom, and prophecy, while idolatry would render works fruitless.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:2
  - fig:6
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:4
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
- id: scene:3
  label: Preaching without recompense
  summary: The prophet is instructed to tell the inhabitants of Mecca that he asks
    no payment for preaching the Koran, which is described as an admonition to all
    creatures.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:4
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
- id: scene:4
  label: Books sent down and human concealment
  summary: The passage asks who sent down the book of Moses, describes it as light
    and direction, and says people publish some parts on papers while concealing much;
    it then identifies God as sender.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:2
  - fig:3
  - fig:4
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:2
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
- id: scene:5
  label: Blessed book for Mecca and prayer observance
  summary: A blessed book is described as confirming previous revelation and as sent
    for preaching to Mecca and those around it; believers in the next life believe
    in it and keep prayer times.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:2
  - fig:4
  - fig:5
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:3
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:6
- id: scene:6
  label: Death of the ungodly
  summary: The ungodly are shown in death pangs while angels extend their hands, command
    them to cast forth their souls, and announce punishment for false claims about
    God and rejection of signs.
  figure_refs:
  - fig:2
  - fig:7
  - fig:8
  symbol_refs:
  - sym:5
  - sym:6
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
  label: rejection of idolatry through discernment of celestial signs
  taxonomy_refs:
  - wisdom
  basis: The note describes Abraham questioning worship of heavenly bodies and reasoning
    toward a superior power.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:1
  - ev:2
  confidence: medium
  cautions: This motif is drawn from translator commentary in the passage, not solely
    from the Qur'anic excerpt in this line range.
- id: motif:2
  label: divine guidance and transmission of scripture, wisdom, and prophecy
  taxonomy_refs:
  - wisdom
  basis: The passage says God directed chosen persons and gave them scripture, wisdom,
    and prophecy.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:3
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage names the gifts but does not narrate individual episodes for
    each recipient.
- id: motif:3
  label: prophetic preaching without material recompense
  taxonomy_refs: []
  basis: The speaker is instructed to say he asks no recompense for preaching the
    Koran, which is an admonition for all creatures.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:4
  confidence: medium
  cautions: No available taxonomy reference directly matches this motif.
- id: motif:4
  label: revealed book as light and direction, partly concealed by humans
  taxonomy_refs:
  - wisdom
  basis: The book Moses brought is described as light and direction, transcribed on
    papers, with some published and much concealed.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:5
  confidence: high
  cautions: The concealment is asserted in the passage but not expanded into a separate
    narrative scene.
- id: motif:5
  label: punishment at death for false revelation and rejection of signs
  taxonomy_refs:
  - divine_judgment
  basis: The passage depicts the ungodly in death pangs, addressed by angels, and
    receiving punishment for false speech about God and rejecting signs.
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:7
  confidence: high
  cautions: The passage emphasizes judgment at death; it does not give a detailed
    afterlife journey map.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
  claim: The translator note explicitly connects Abraham's reasoning from celestial
    bodies with Jewish-source material, saying it is conformable to Josephus and that
    the story is taken from the Talmud.
  claim_level: same_motif
  target: Jewish Abraham conversion traditions in Josephus and the Talmud
  evidence_refs:
  - ev:2
  counter_evidence_refs: []
  confidence: medium
  limitations: This comparison is supplied by the translator's note within the passage;
    the underlying Josephus and Talmud passages are not provided here for independent
    comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
  type: summary
  locator: 15123-15137
  quote_or_summary: 'Translator note: Abraham''s parents were idolaters; opinions
    differ on his age when he knew the true God and left idolatry; he was educated
    in Sabian worship of heavenly bodies and examined them to test their right to
    worship.'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:2
  type: summary
  locator: 15138-15145
  quote_or_summary: 'Translator note: Abraham''s knowledge of the supreme Creator
    is compared to Josephus''s account of inference from earth, sea, sun, moon, and
    other celestial bodies, and the story is said to be taken from the Talmud.'
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:3
  type: summary
  locator: 15169-15177
  quote_or_summary: The passage says God chose and directed certain fathers, issue,
    and brethren; idolatry would make their works fruitless; and these persons received
    scripture, wisdom, and prophecy.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:4
  type: summary
  locator: 15178-15180
  quote_or_summary: The passage says to follow those whom God directed and to tell
    the inhabitants of Mecca that no recompense is asked for preaching the Koran,
    which is an admonition to all creatures.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:5
  type: summary
  locator: 15181-15188
  quote_or_summary: The passage asks who sent down the book Moses brought, describes
    it as light and direction, says parts are published on papers and much concealed,
    and answers that God sent it down.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:6
  type: summary
  locator: 15189-15193
  quote_or_summary: The passage calls the sent-down book blessed, says it confirms
    earlier revelation, is delivered for preaching to Mecca and its surroundings,
    and is believed by those who believe in the next life and observe prayer times.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
- id: ev:7
  type: summary
  locator: 15194-15206
  quote_or_summary: The passage condemns lies about God, false claims of revelation,
    and claims to produce like revelation; it depicts the ungodly in death pangs,
    angels reaching out their hands, a command to cast forth souls, and punishment
    for false speech and rejection of signs.
  source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
  rights_note: Public domain source text; summarized.
confidence:
  extraction: high
  motif_candidates: medium
  comparison_claims: medium
  notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied line range. Motif assignments are
    conservative and limited to available taxonomy references where supported. The
    comparison claim relies on translator commentary included in the passage.
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: |-
  Public-domain Sale translation passage includes both translator notes and Qur'anic text; observations distinguish commentary-derived Abraham material from the Qur'anic excerpt.
  batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
  custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l15123-l15206
  passage_sha256=84aaa2a5eff95af47e45dd315020ff3116465e96156916ea009f32bc851ac833