batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l24638-l24735
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l24638-l24735
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: CHAPTER XIX. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER XX. / IN THE
NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 24638-24735
start: '24638'
end: '24735'
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: Moses returns to his people in anger after their devotion to a calf idol
made from ornaments cast into fire. Aaron explains his restraint, and al Smeri
explains that he cast dust from the messenger's footsteps into the molten calf.
Moses banishes al Smeri, announces punishment, destroys the calf, affirms the
one true God, and the passage turns to resurrection, guilt, the trumpet, judgment,
the leveling of mountains, and mankind following the angelic caller to judgment.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Moses returned to his people in great wrath and distress and accused them
of failing to keep their promise during his absence.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The people said they carried loads of gold and silver ornaments, cast them
into the fire, and al Smeri likewise cast in what he had collected.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Al Smeri produced a corporeal calf which lowed, and he and his companions
identified it as the god of the people and of Moses.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The passage states that the idol gave no answer and had no power to hurt or
profit them.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Aaron had warned the people that they were being tested by the calf and urged
them to follow and obey him, but they refused to stop worshipping it until Moses
returned.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Moses questioned Aaron, and Aaron answered that he feared being accused of
dividing the children of Israel or abandoning his charge.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Al Smeri told Moses that he saw what others did not, took a handful of dust
from the messenger of God's footsteps, and cast it into the molten calf.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: A note explains that the messenger was understood as the angel Gabriel on
the horse of life, and that his footsteps gave life to whatever they touched.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Moses ordered al Smeri to depart and announced that his punishment in this
life would be to say, 'Touch me not,' with further punishment threatened in the
life to come.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: Moses said the calf-god would be burned, reduced to powder, and scattered
in the sea.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The passage affirms that God is the true God, with no other god, and that
he comprehends all things by his knowledge.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: obs:12
text: Those who turn aside from the admonition will carry a load of guilt on the
day of resurrection.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: obs:13
text: On the day described, the trumpet will be sounded, the wicked will be gathered,
and people will speak in low voices about the shortness of their tarrying.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: obs:14
text: The mountains will be reduced to dust and scattered, leaving a flat plain
without elevations or depressions.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: obs:15
text: On that day mankind will follow the angel who calls them to judgment, and
voices will be low before the Merciful.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Moses
description: The returning leader who rebukes his people, questions Aaron and al
Smeri, orders the destruction of the calf, and affirms the true God.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Moses' people / children of Israel
description: The group who cast ornaments into the fire, were devoted to the calf's
worship, and are described as going astray.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: al Smeri
description: The figure who cast collected material into the fire, produced the
lowing calf, explained his act with dust from the messenger's footsteps, and received
punishment from Moses.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Aaron
description: The figure who warned the people against the calf, urged obedience,
and later explained his conduct to Moses.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: corporeal calf / idol
description: A lowing calf produced from cast materials, treated by al Smeri and
his companions as a god, but described as unable to answer, harm, or profit.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: God / LORD / the Merciful
description: The true God, described as merciful, as having promised the people,
as comprehending all things by knowledge, and as presiding over judgment imagery.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:9
- ev:13
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: messenger of God
description: The being whose footsteps supplied dust that al Smeri cast into the
molten calf; a note identifies the messenger as Gabriel on the horse of life.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: The addressee to whom former relations and admonition are recited.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: the wicked
description: Those gathered on the day the trumpet is sounded and described as speaking
quietly about the shortness of their tarrying.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: angel who will call to judgment
description: The angel whom mankind will follow on the day of judgment.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
roles:
- id: role:1
label: returning reprover and destroyer of idol
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Moses returns angry, rebukes the people and Aaron, interrogates al Smeri,
and orders the calf burned and scattered.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: community led into calf worship
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The people describe casting ornaments into fire and refuse to cease worshipping
the calf until Moses returns.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: maker or instigator of the calf idol
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Al Smeri casts material into the fire, produces the lowing calf, and explains
adding dust from the messenger's footsteps.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:4
label: restrained admonisher
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Aaron warns the people they are tested by the calf, tells them to obey, and
later says he feared creating division.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: false god / powerless idol
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The calf is called a god by al Smeri's party but is said not to answer or
possess power to harm or profit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:6
label: true God and judge
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage states that God is the only true God and frames resurrection
and judgment under divine authority.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- ev:10
- ev:13
- id: role:7
label: source of life-giving dust in commentary
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Al Smeri says he took dust from the messenger's footsteps; a note explains
these footsteps gave life to what they touched.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:8
label: recipient of recited admonition
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The passage addresses Mohammed as the recipient of relations of the past
and an admonition.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- id: role:9
label: judged sinners
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The wicked are gathered on the day of the trumpet and judgment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: role:10
label: summoner to judgment
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Mankind follows the angel who calls them to judgment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:13
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: calf idol
literal_form: corporeal lowing calf produced from molten materials
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: fire
literal_form: fire into which ornaments are cast and in which the calf is later
to be burned
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: sym:3
label: dust from footsteps
literal_form: handful of dust from the messenger of God's footsteps cast into the
molten calf
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: sym:4
label: sea
literal_form: the sea into which the calf's powder is scattered
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:5
label: trumpet
literal_form: trumpet sounded on the day when the wicked are gathered
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
- id: sym:6
label: mountains leveled to dust
literal_form: mountains reduced to dust, scattered, and replaced by a flat plain
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- id: sym:7
label: load of guilt
literal_form: a load or grievous burden carried on the day of resurrection
associated_figures:
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Moses returns and rebukes the people
summary: Moses returns in anger and distress and asks why the people failed to keep
their promise during his absence.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Formation and worship of the calf
summary: The people describe casting ornaments into fire; al Smeri produces a lowing
corporeal calf, and the calf is presented as the god of the people and of Moses.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Aaron's warning and defense
summary: Aaron warns the people that the calf is a test and calls them to obey him;
after Moses' return, Aaron explains that he feared causing division among the
children of Israel.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Al Smeri's explanation of the dust
summary: Al Smeri says he saw what others did not and cast dust from the messenger
of God's footsteps into the molten calf; a note explains a life-giving interpretation
of the dust.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:7
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Punishment of al Smeri and destruction of the calf
summary: Moses banishes al Smeri with a social-touch taboo, threatens future punishment,
and orders the calf burned, powdered, and scattered in the sea.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Admonition, resurrection, and judgment
summary: The passage shifts to admonition, the burden of guilt at resurrection,
the sounding of the trumpet, the gathering of the wicked, the leveling of mountains,
and mankind following the angelic caller to judgment.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:10
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:12
- ev:13
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: calf idol fashioned and worshipped in leader's absence
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: During Moses' absence, ornaments are cast into fire, al Smeri produces a
lowing calf, and the people become devoted to its worship.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy list has no specific calf-idol or idol-making motif
family.
- id: motif:2
label: animated or life-like manufactured image
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The calf is corporeal and lowed; al Smeri explains casting dust from the
messenger's footsteps into the molten calf, and a note interprets the dust as
life-giving.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The life-giving mechanism is elaborated in translator's notes/commentary
rather than only in the main narrative.
- id: motif:3
label: divine judgment and eschatological summons
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage describes punishment in this life and the life to come, the day
of resurrection, the trumpet, gathering of the wicked, and mankind following the
angel to judgment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:10
- ev:11
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: This motif combines the immediate punishment of al Smeri with the later
eschatological judgment sequence.
- id: motif:4
label: resurrection and burden of guilt
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: Those who turn aside are said to carry a load of guilt on the day of resurrection
and remain under it as a grievous burden.
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes judgment and guilt more than a detailed resurrection
journey.
- id: motif:5
label: covenant or promise violated during sacred absence
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: Moses asks whether the people failed to keep the promise they made to him
after the Lord had promised them an excellent promise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage uses the language of promise; the term covenant is not used
in the supplied translation.
- id: motif:6
label: cosmic leveling before judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The mountains are reduced to dust and the land becomes an even plain before
the judgment scene.
evidence_refs:
- ev:12
- ev:13
confidence: high
cautions: This is an eschatological landscape transformation within a judgment context,
not a full cosmogonic destruction account.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage's calf-idol episode is explicitly connected by the translator's
notes to the Pentateuchal/Exodus golden calf narrative, especially Aaron's explanation
of the calf's emergence.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Pentateuch / Exodus 32 golden calf episode
evidence_refs:
- ev:14
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The comparison is supported by the supplied translator's note, not
by an extended comparative argument within the main translated passage; details
such as al Smeri and the life-giving dust are distinctive in this passage and
notes.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 24638-24643
quote_or_summary: Moses returns in wrath and distress, asks whether the Lord had
not promised a most excellent promise, and asks whether the people failed to keep
their promise to him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 24644-24651
quote_or_summary: The people say they carried loads of gold and silver ornaments
and cast them into fire; al Smeri likewise cast in collected material and produced
a corporeal lowing calf, which he and companions called their god and Moses' god.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 24652-24654
quote_or_summary: The idol is said to return no answer and to be unable to cause
either hurt or profit.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 24655-24660
quote_or_summary: Aaron tells the people they are only proved by the calf, says
their Lord is the Merciful, and commands them to follow him; they refuse to cease
devotion to the calf until Moses returns.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 24661-24669
quote_or_summary: Moses questions Aaron for not acting when the people went astray;
Aaron asks Moses not to drag him by beard or hair and says he feared being blamed
for division among the children of Israel or for not observing Moses' saying.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 24670-24674
quote_or_summary: Al Smeri says he saw what others did not, took a handful of dust
from the footsteps of the messenger of God, and cast it into the molten calf as
his mind directed him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 24701-24708 note r
quote_or_summary: The note explains that the messenger was understood as the angel
Gabriel, mounted on the horse of life, and that his footsteps gave life to whatever
they touched, so al Smeri used the dust to animate the calf.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary of note used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 24715-24721
quote_or_summary: Moses tells al Smeri to depart, says his worldly punishment will
be to say 'Touch me not,' threatens pains in the life to come, and says the calf-god
will be burned, powdered, and scattered in the sea.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 24722-24724
quote_or_summary: The passage states that God is the true God, that there is no
other god, and that he comprehends all things by knowledge.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: lines 24725-24730
quote_or_summary: Mohammed is told that former relations and an admonition have
been recited; whoever turns aside will carry a load of guilt on the day of resurrection
as a grievous burden.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: lines 24731-24735 and following passage within supplied range
quote_or_summary: On that day the trumpet is sounded; the wicked are gathered with
grey eyes and speak in low voices about having tarried only a short time.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:12
type: summary
locator: lines 24735 and following passage within supplied range
quote_or_summary: The mountains are reduced to dust, scattered abroad, and replaced
by a level plain with no higher or lower part visible.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:13
type: summary
locator: lines 24735 and following passage within supplied range
quote_or_summary: Mankind follows the angel who calls them to judgment; none can
turn aside from him, and voices are low before the Merciful.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary used.
- id: ev:14
type: note
locator: lines 24683-24688 note n; line 24714 note references
quote_or_summary: The notes compare the calf's emergence with Aaron's excuse in
the Pentateuch and cite Exodus 32:24.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short summary of note used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Literal extraction is strong for the calf-idol and judgment scenes. Some
motif labels, especially covenant and animated image, require caution because
they infer motif categories from the translated narrative and notes.
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: |-
Only supplied passage text, metadata, available taxonomy references, and translator notes included in the passage were used.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l24638-l24735
passage_sha256=3165524f783c3d97447befa602a6f9685263fc46676d2047a493c6b728c1cedc