batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l2094-l2141
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l2094-l2141
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 2094-2141
start: '2094'
end: '2141'
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 gives an anecdote illustrating Arab liberality after Mohammed:
three men dispute in the court of the Caaba over which Arab is most liberal, test
three candidates by asking for help, and finally judge Arbah most generous after
he offers his two supporting slaves despite having no money. The passage then
briefly praises Arabs for keeping their word, respecting kin, and possessing quick
wit, before turning to defects.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Three men dispute in the court of the Caaba about which person among the Arabs
is most liberal.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A bystander proposes that each disputant ask his preferred candidate for assistance
so their gifts can be compared.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Abdallah is approached while mounting a camel for a journey and is told the
requester is traveling and in necessity.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Abdallah gives the requester the camel and its load, while asking him not
to part with a sword attached to the saddle because it had belonged to Ali.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: The camel carries silk vests and 4,000 pieces of gold, but the sword is described
as the object of greatest value.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Kais is asleep when the requester arrives, and Kais's servant chooses to help
rather than wake his master.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Kais's servant gives the requester 7,000 pieces of gold and directs him to
take a camel and a slave.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: When Kais learns what happened, he frees the servant and says he would have
given the requester more.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: Arbah is met while going to prayers, leaning on two slaves because his eyesight
has failed.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Arbah has no money, offers the two slaves to the requester, and says that
if they are not accepted he gives them their liberty.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: After leaving the slaves, Arbah gropes his way along by the wall.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:12
text: The returning adventurers and those present unanimously judge Arbah to be
the most generous of the three.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:13
text: The passage also states that Arabs were commended for keeping their words,
respecting kindred, and having quick apprehension and wit.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Three disputing men
description: Three men in the court of the Caaba who dispute which Arab is most
liberal and then test their preferred candidates.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Abdallah, son of Jaafar
description: One candidate for the most liberal person among the Arabs; identified
as son of Jaafar, the uncle of Mohammed.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Kais Ebn Saad Ebn Obdah
description: One candidate for the most liberal person among the Arabs; his household
supplies the requester while he sleeps.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Arbah of the tribe of Aws
description: One candidate for the most liberal person among the Arabs; described
as having failed eyesight and leaning on two slaves when going to prayers.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Kais's servant
description: Servant of Kais who supplies the requester without waking his master
and is later freed by Kais.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Requesters or adventurers
description: The men who go to the candidates and ask assistance while claiming
need during travel.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Two slaves supporting Arbah
description: Two slaves on whom Arbah leans because of failed eyesight; he offers
them to the requester or declares their liberty if refused.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Arabs
description: The broader group discussed as liberal, exact to their words, respectful
to kindred, and quick-witted.
role_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: tester or requester
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:6
basis: The disputants agree to ask their preferred candidates for assistance in
order to compare what each gives.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: candidate for greatest generosity
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
basis: Abdallah, Kais, and Arbah are each named as preferred candidates in the dispute
over the most liberal Arab.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: intermediary giver
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Kais's servant supplies the requester from the household rather than waking
Kais.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: judging witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: On the return of the adventurers, those present unanimously judge Arbah the
most generous.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Court of the Caaba
literal_form: The court of the Caaba where the dispute occurs.
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: Camel with goods
literal_form: A camel with silk vests and 4,000 pieces of gold given by Abdallah.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: Sword of Ali
literal_form: A sword fixed to the saddle, said to have belonged to Ali, the son
of Abutleb, and described as the thing of greatest value.
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: Purse of gold, camel, and slave
literal_form: A purse of 7,000 pieces of gold, a camel, and a slave supplied from
Kais's household.
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Two supporting slaves
literal_form: Two slaves on whom Arbah leans and whom he offers to the requester
or frees if refused.
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Dispute and test proposed in the court of the Caaba
summary: Three men debate which Arab is most liberal; a bystander proposes testing
the candidates by asking each for assistance and comparing the gifts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Abdallah gives his journey camel and its load
summary: A requester approaches Abdallah in travel need; Abdallah dismounts and
gives the camel and its goods, while asking that the sword of Ali not be parted
with.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Kais's servant supplies the requester
summary: While Kais sleeps, his servant gives the requester all the money in the
house, a camel, and a slave; after waking, Kais frees the servant and says he
would have given more.
figure_refs:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Arbah offers his supporting slaves and is judged most generous
summary: Arbah, lacking money and dependent on two slaves because of poor eyesight,
offers them to the requester or declares them free if refused; the witnesses judge
him the most generous.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: General praise of Arab qualities
summary: The passage states that Arabs are praised for keeping their word, respecting
kin, and quickness of apprehension and wit.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Generosity contest decided by practical test
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage presents a dispute over the most liberal Arab, a proposed test
through requests for aid, and a final unanimous judgment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: This is an anecdotal moral exemplum rather than a mythic narrative in
the strict sense.
- id: motif:2
label: Aid to the needy traveler
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Each requester frames the appeal as need during travel or want on the road,
and the candidates or their households respond with substantial aid.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes liberality, not a supernatural reward or reciprocal
exchange.
- id: motif:3
label: Gift of valued possessions as proof of virtue
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Abdallah gives a camel with wealth and a valued sword attached; Kais's household
gives money, a camel, and a slave; Arbah offers the two slaves on whom he physically
relies.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The symbolic value of the gifts should not be extended beyond the passage's
explicit use as evidence of generosity.
- id: motif:4
label: Manumission associated with generosity
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Kais frees the servant who gave aid, and Arbah declares that the two slaves
will be freed if the requester refuses them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage uses these acts within a generosity anecdote and does not
develop a broader liberation narrative.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 2094-2106
quote_or_summary: The narrator introduces Arab liberality after Mohammed, then recounts
three men disputing in the court of the Caaba over the most liberal Arab and agreeing
to test Abdallah, Kais, and Arbah by asking each for assistance.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain; source metadata states Project Gutenberg text with full
text allowed.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 2107-2115
quote_or_summary: Abdallah is approached while mounting his camel; he gives the
camel and its load to the needy traveler, asking only that the sword attached
to the saddle, formerly belonging to Ali, not be parted with. The camel carries
silk vests and 4,000 pieces of gold, while the sword is called the most valuable
item.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain; source metadata states Project Gutenberg text with full
text allowed.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 2115-2125
quote_or_summary: Kais's servant, rather than waking his sleeping master, gives
the requester 7,000 pieces of gold and directs him to take a camel and a slave.
Kais later frees the servant and says he would have given more.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain; source metadata states Project Gutenberg text with full
text allowed.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 2125-2135
quote_or_summary: Arbah, going to prayers while leaning on two slaves because of
poor eyesight, laments having no money and offers the two slaves; when the requester
refuses, Arbah says they are free if not accepted. The witnesses unanimously judge
Arbah the most generous.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain; source metadata states Project Gutenberg text with full
text allowed.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 2136-2141
quote_or_summary: The passage adds that Arabs are commended for exactness to their
words, respect for kindred, quick apprehension, penetration, and wit, then begins
to mention defects and vices.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain; source metadata states Project Gutenberg text with full
text allowed.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is a prose historical-cultural exemplum in Sale's preliminary
discourse. Literal extraction is straightforward; motif classification is limited
because the available taxonomy does not include a direct generosity-exemplum category.
No comparison claims are made.
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: |-
Used only the supplied passage and metadata; no external identifications or comparisons added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l2094-l2141
passage_sha256=3d829c1c0f66d564dc0730fa93da71e83c9d6e2c85186ec19991a19f90b32bca