batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l17177-l17234
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l17177-l17234
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER VII / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER VIII. / IN
THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 17177-17234
start: '17177'
end: '17234'
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: 'Sale''s note recounts background to the expedition of Bedr: Mohammed learns
of a Koreish caravan, sets out to intercept it, receives a promise through Gabriel
that he will gain either the caravan or victory over the Meccan succours, consults
followers who hesitate, receives pledges of obedience, and orders an attack in
God''s name despite inferior numbers.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Mohammed receives private information, attributed in the note to Gabriel,
about a Koreish caravan returning from Syria with valuable merchandise and a small
guard.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Mohammed sets out with a party to intercept the caravan.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Abu Sofin sends to Mecca for help, and Abu Jahl with principal men of the
city marches with a force of nine hundred and fifty men.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Gabriel is said to descend with a promise that Mohammed will either take the
caravan or defeat the succours.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Some companions prefer attacking the caravan because they are not prepared
to fight Abu Jahl's troops.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Mohammed rejects the proposal to pursue the caravan and states that Abu Jahl
is near while the caravan is distant by the seaside.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Mokdd Ebn Amru says the followers will not answer Mohammed as the children
of Israel answered Moses, but will fight with him and his Lord.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Mohammed consults especially the Ansars because he is unsure whether their
oath at al Akaba obliges them outside Medina.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Saad Ebn Modh says the Ansars received Mohammed as the apostle of God, promised
obedience, and are ready to follow him even into the sea.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:10
text: Mohammed orders the followers in God's name to attack the succours and assures
them of victory.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: 'The note emphasizes the followers'' numerical and material disadvantage:
they are few, on foot, and have only two horses, while the Koreish have one hundred
horse.'
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: The note contrasts a desire for caravan spoils with a divine design to exalt
true religion by overcoming adversaries.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: Leader of the expedition who consults his companions and orders the
attack in God's name.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Gabriel
description: Angel named as the source of private information and as descending
with a promise of success.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Abu Sofin
description: Commander of the small caravan convoy who sends to Mecca for succours.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Abu Jahl and the Koreish succours
description: Meccan force led by Abu Jahl, described as nine hundred and fifty men
and later as having one hundred horse.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Mohammed's companions
description: Followers consulted over whether to attack the caravan or the succours;
some are hesitant because of the enemy force.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Abu Becr, Omar, Saad Ebn Obadah, and Mokdd Ebn Amru
description: Named companions whose interposition leads the others to acquiesce
in Mohammed's opinion; Mokdd voices readiness to fight.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Ansars or helpers
description: The larger part of Mohammed's forces, whose obligation under the oath
at al Akaba is considered.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Saad Ebn Modh
description: Speaker for the Ansars who affirms obedience and readiness to follow
Mohammed anywhere.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Moses and the children of Israel
description: Figures invoked in Mokdd's speech as a contrast to the companions'
promised obedience.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Koreish caravan
description: Caravan returning from Syria with valuable merchandise and a small
guard.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
roles:
- id: role:1
label: prophetic commander
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Mohammed leads the expedition, consults the followers, and orders the attack
in God's name.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: angelic informant and promiser
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Gabriel is named as providing information and descending with a promise of
success.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: caravan commander seeking aid
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Abu Sofin commands the convoy and sends to Mecca for succours.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: opposing armed force
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Abu Jahl leads the Meccan succours, described as numerous and well mounted.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:9
- id: role:5
label: hesitant consulted followers
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Some companions prefer the caravan and say they are not prepared for the
troops.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:6
label: supporters of obedience
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Their interposition brings acquiescence, and Mokdd declares willingness to
fight with Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: covenant-bound helpers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The Ansars' oath at al Akaba is discussed as a possible basis of obligation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: spokesman for the helpers
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Saad Ebn Modh speaks in the name of the rest and affirms obedience.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:9
label: referenced contrast-example
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Moses and the children of Israel are cited as a model of speech the companions
reject.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:10
label: prize target
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The caravan is the initial object of interception and is associated with
valuable merchandise and spoils.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: caravan and spoils
literal_form: Koreish caravan carrying valuable merchandise
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:10
- id: sym:2
label: angelic descent
literal_form: Gabriel descending with a promise
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:3
label: oath of obedience
literal_form: oath at al Akaba and promise of obedience
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: sea as extreme test of following
literal_form: Saad's statement that they would follow Mohammed even into the sea
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:5
label: unequal mounted strength
literal_form: two horses among Mohammed's party versus one hundred horse among the
Koreish
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Information about the caravan and departure
summary: Mohammed learns of a lightly guarded Koreish caravan with valuable goods
and sets out to intercept it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Meccan succours and angelic promise
summary: Abu Sofin summons aid from Mecca; Abu Jahl marches with a large force,
and Gabriel promises that Mohammed will gain either the caravan or victory over
the troops.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Council over caravan or troops
summary: Mohammed consults his companions; some urge pursuing the caravan, but he
rejects that plan because Abu Jahl is near.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:10
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Declarations of obedience
summary: Named companions and the Ansars affirm readiness to obey and fight, contrasting
themselves with the children of Israel before Moses and invoking an oath of obedience.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Order to attack despite disadvantage
summary: Mohammed commands the attack in God's name and assures victory, while the
note stresses the small and poorly mounted condition of his party compared with
the Koreish.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: scene:6
label: Spoils contrasted with divine purpose
summary: The note interprets the followers' preference for the caravan as desire
for spoils, while presenting the battle as part of God's design to exalt religion
against adversaries.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:10
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: angelic promise of success before conflict
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Gabriel is said to promise that Mohammed will either take the caravan or
defeat the succours, and Mohammed later assures victory.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is a translator's explanatory note, not the Qur'anic verse
text itself.
- id: motif:2
label: covenantal obedience to a sacred leader
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: The Ansars' oath at al Akaba and their renewed promise of obedience frame
their duty to follow Mohammed beyond Medina.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The covenant motif is inferred from the explicit oath and obedience language;
the passage does not elaborate the oath's full terms.
- id: motif:3
label: choosing divine battle over material spoil
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The note contrasts the desire to gain caravan spoils with God's design to
exalt true religion by overcoming adversaries.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy link to divine judgment is approximate; the passage emphasizes
divine purpose and defeat of adversaries rather than a formal judgment scene.
- id: motif:4
label: outnumbered faithful band assured victory
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The party is described as small and poorly mounted compared with the Koreish,
yet Mohammed orders attack and assures victory in God's name.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
confidence: high
cautions: The passage supplies the imbalance and assurance, but not the battle outcome
within this line range.
- id: motif:5
label: rejection of a prior model of disobedience
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mokdd explicitly says the followers will not answer as the children of Israel
did to Moses, but will fight alongside Mohammed and his Lord.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The prior episode is only briefly quoted and cited; details of that episode
are outside the passage.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly compares the companions' declared obedience to an
earlier Moses-and-Israel episode, using that earlier refusal as a contrastive
model.
claim_level: same_function
target: Moses and the children of Israel refusal-to-fight saying, cited as Kor.
c. 5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: Only a short cited saying is present; no broader claim of historical
contact, common inheritance, or complete motif equivalence is established by this
passage.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 17182-17188
quote_or_summary: Mohammed receives information, attributed to Gabriel, about a
Koreish caravan returning from Syria with valuable merchandise and a small guard,
and sets out to intercept it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 17188-17193
quote_or_summary: Abu Sofin, commanding the convoy, sends to Mecca for succours;
Abu Jahl and principal men of Mecca march with nine hundred and fifty men.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 17193-17196
quote_or_summary: Gabriel descends with a promise that Mohammed will either take
the caravan or beat the succours.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 17196-17203
quote_or_summary: Mohammed consults his companions; some urge attacking the caravan
because they are not prepared for Abu Jahl's troops, but Mohammed rejects that
proposal because the caravan is distant and Abu Jahl is near.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:5
type: quote
locator: 17203-17210
quote_or_summary: Mokdd says they will not say, as the children of Israel did to
Moses, 'Go thou and thy LORD to fight, for we will sit here,' but instead will
fight with him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 17210-17215
quote_or_summary: Mohammed consults especially the Ansars because they form the
greater part of his forces and he wonders whether their oath at al Akaba obliges
them beyond defense in Medina.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 17215-17219
quote_or_summary: Saad Ebn Modh says the Ansars received Mohammed as the apostle
of God, promised obedience, and are ready to follow wherever he pleases, even
into the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 17219-17221
quote_or_summary: Mohammed orders them in God's name to attack the succours and
assures them of victory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 17224-17228
quote_or_summary: 'The note explains their backwardness by their small number and
lack of preparation: they are on foot with only two horses, while the Koreish
have one hundred horse.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 17231-17234
quote_or_summary: The note says their view was to gain caravan spoils and avoid
danger, but God designed to exalt true religion by extirpating adversaries.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: Literal extraction is strong because the passage is explicit narrative commentary.
Motif assignments are more tentative where taxonomy categories only partially
match 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: |-
Passage is Sale's explanatory note on the expedition of Bedr rather than direct Qur'anic verse text; extraction is limited to the supplied line range.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l17177-l17234
passage_sha256=f27c43b0bfbcec5e0af64f3a0674e81b930679f46c8521f500a94809e9a1194f