batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l27130-l27229
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l27130-l27229
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: ENTITLED, AL FORKAN; REVEALED AT MECCA. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL
GOD. / CHAPTER XXVI. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 27130-27229
start: '27130'
end: '27229'
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 opening of Chapter XXVI presents revealed signs and human rejection,
then recounts Moses being sent by God with Aaron to Pharaoh. Moses and Pharaoh
dispute divine authority; Moses produces signs, including a rod becoming a serpent
and a white hand. Pharaoh calls him a magician, summons other magicians, and the
contest ends with Moses's rod swallowing their false displays, after which the
magicians profess belief in the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage begins by identifying the chapter and presenting the revealed
signs as signs of a clear book.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The addressee is described as distressed because the Meccans do not become
believers.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The passage says God could send down a convincing sign from heaven, but that
admonitions are turned aside and charged with falsehood.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: The earth bringing forth many noble species of vegetables is presented as
a sign, though most do not believe.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: God calls Moses and commands him to go to the unjust people of Pharaoh.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Moses fears being accused of falsehood, having constrained speech, being confronted
with a past crime, and being killed; he asks that Aaron be sent as his assistant.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:7
text: God assures Moses that he will not be killed and sends Moses and Aaron with
signs to Pharaoh, commanding that the children of Israel be released.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Pharaoh reminds Moses that he was brought up among them as a child and accuses
him of ingratitude because of a past deed.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: Moses acknowledges the deed, says he fled because he feared them, and says
his Lord bestowed wisdom on him and appointed him an apostle.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:10
text: Moses says Pharaoh's favor toward him is connected with Pharaoh having enslaved
the children of Israel.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:11
text: Moses identifies the Lord as Lord of heaven and earth, Lord of the forefathers,
and Lord of the east and west; Pharaoh threatens imprisonment if Moses takes any
god besides him.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:12
text: Moses casts down his rod, which becomes a visible serpent, and draws out his
hand, which appears white to the spectators.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:13
text: Pharaoh identifies Moses as a skilful magician and says he seeks to dispossess
the people of their land by sorcery.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:14
text: The princes advise delaying Moses and Aaron while summoning skilful magicians
from the cities.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:15
text: The assembled magicians ask Pharaoh whether they will receive a reward if
they win, and Pharaoh promises both reward and nearness to his person.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:16
text: The magicians cast down ropes and rods, invoking the might of Pharaoh, and
Moses casts down his rod, which swallows what they had made falsely appear changed
into serpents.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:17
text: The magicians prostrate themselves and declare belief in the Lord of all creatures,
the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:18
text: Pharaoh responds that the magicians believed without his permission and claims
Moses is their chief who taught them magic.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God / the Lord
description: The merciful, mighty Lord who reveals signs, calls Moses, sends Moses
and Aaron with signs, hears what passes, bestows wisdom, and is identified by
Moses as Lord of heaven, earth, east, west, and all creatures.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Moses
description: Called by God, fears rejection and death, asks for Aaron as assistant,
is sent to Pharaoh, debates Pharaoh, produces the rod-serpent and white-hand signs,
and defeats the magicians' displays.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Aaron
description: Requested by Moses as an assistant and sent with Moses to Pharaoh;
named by the converted magicians in their confession of belief.
role_refs:
- role:3
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:8
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Pharaoh
description: Ruler addressed by Moses and Aaron; questions the Lord, threatens imprisonment,
calls Moses a magician, summons magicians, promises reward, and reacts angrily
to their belief.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Children of Israel
description: The group whom Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to send away; Moses says
Pharaoh has enslaved them.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Princes around Pharaoh
description: Those around Pharaoh who hear his accusation against Moses and advise
delaying Moses and Aaron while summoning magicians.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Magicians
description: Skilful magicians assembled for a contest against Moses; they cast
ropes and rods, then prostrate themselves and profess belief after Moses's rod
swallows their displays.
role_refs:
- role:11
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Spectators / assembled people
description: People assembled on the solemn day who witness the signs and contest.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine revealer and sender
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says the admonition comes from the Merciful and that God calls
and sends Moses and Aaron with signs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: bestower of wisdom
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Moses says his Lord bestowed wisdom on him and appointed him an apostle.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:3
label: apostle / messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Moses and Aaron are sent to Pharaoh and say they are the apostle of the Lord
of all creatures.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: bearer of miraculous signs
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Moses casts down his rod and draws out his hand as signs before Pharaoh and
the spectators.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: victor in sign-contest
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Moses's rod swallows what the magicians had made to appear as serpents.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: assistant requested by Moses
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Moses asks that Aaron be sent as his assistant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:7
label: opposing ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Pharaoh disputes Moses, threatens imprisonment, and seeks to counter Moses
with magicians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: enslaver of the children of Israel
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Moses says Pharaoh has enslaved the children of Israel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:9
label: enslaved people to be released
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Moses and Aaron tell Pharaoh to send away the children of Israel, and Moses
says Pharaoh has enslaved them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:10
label: royal advisers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The princes around Pharaoh advise him to delay Moses and Aaron and send for
magicians.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:11
label: magical challengers
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The magicians are assembled to compete and cast ropes and rods in the contest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:12
label: converts after witnessing sign
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: After Moses's rod swallows their displays, the magicians prostrate themselves
and declare belief.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:13
label: witnesses
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Spectators see Moses's white hand and the people are assembled for the contest.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: perspicuous book
literal_form: the signs of the perspicuous book
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: earth vegetation as sign
literal_form: vegetables springing from the earth of every noble species
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: rod becoming serpent
literal_form: Moses's rod cast down and becoming a visible serpent
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: white hand
literal_form: Moses's hand drawn from his bosom and appearing white to spectators
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: ropes and rods falsely appearing as serpents
literal_form: magicians' ropes and rods made falsely to appear changed into serpents
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: prostration
literal_form: the magicians prostrating themselves in worship
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:7
label: east and west
literal_form: the east and the west named in Moses's description of the Lord's domain
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Opening revelation and rejected signs
summary: The passage presents the signs of the clear book, notes the rejection of
admonition, and points to vegetation springing from the earth as a sign.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Call of Moses
summary: God calls Moses to go to Pharaoh's people. Moses states his fears and requests
Aaron as assistant; God assures him and sends them with signs.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Moses and Pharaoh dispute authority
summary: Pharaoh recalls Moses's upbringing and past deed. Moses replies by acknowledging
his deed, describing his flight, affirming divine wisdom and apostleship, and
challenging Pharaoh's enslavement of the children of Israel. Moses then identifies
the Lord's cosmic authority while Pharaoh threatens prison.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Miraculous signs before Pharaoh
summary: Moses casts down his rod and it becomes a visible serpent; he draws out
his hand and it appears white. Pharaoh calls Moses a magician and accuses him
of sorcery.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:5
label: Assembly of the magicians
summary: Pharaoh's advisers recommend summoning magicians. The magicians gather
on a solemn day, ask about their reward, and receive Pharaoh's promise of reward
and nearness.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:6
label: Contest and confession
summary: The magicians cast ropes and rods in Pharaoh's name. Moses casts his rod,
which swallows their false serpent-appearances. The magicians prostrate and confess
belief in the Lord of Moses and Aaron, prompting Pharaoh's angry response.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Divine commission to confront an oppressive ruler
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: God calls Moses, commands him to go to Pharaoh's unjust people, and sends
Moses and Aaron with signs to demand the release of the children of Israel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The passage excerpt begins the Moses-Pharaoh episode but does not include
the later outcome of the confrontation.
- id: motif:2
label: Helper requested for a hesitant messenger
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Moses fears rejection, speech difficulty, a past crime, and death, and asks
that Aaron be sent as his assistant.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives Moses's stated reasons but does not elaborate Aaron's
subsequent speech role in this excerpt.
- id: motif:3
label: Divinely bestowed wisdom and apostleship
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Moses says that after he fled, his Lord bestowed wisdom on him and appointed
him one of the apostles.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage names wisdom directly but does not define its content.
- id: motif:4
label: Miraculous rod transformed into serpent
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Moses casts down his rod and it becomes a visible serpent before Pharaoh
and the spectators.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The text frames the serpent as a sign, while Pharaoh interprets it as
magic.
- id: motif:5
label: Contest between divine sign and court magic
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: Pharaoh summons skilful magicians; they cast ropes and rods that falsely
appear as serpents, and Moses's rod swallows their displays.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt reports the contest but ends before Pharaoh's threatened punishment
is fully stated.
- id: motif:6
label: Recognition of divine power by defeated ritual specialists
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After Moses's rod swallows their displays, the magicians prostrate and declare
belief in the Lord of all creatures, the Lord of Moses and Aaron.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage does not provide the magicians' inner reasoning beyond their
immediate prostration and confession.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 27130-27143
quote_or_summary: The opening identifies the revealed signs, describes rejection
by the Meccans, says a sign could be sent from heaven, and points to vegetation
springing from the earth as a sign.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 27144-27155
quote_or_summary: God calls Moses to go to Pharaoh's unjust people. Moses fears
being accused, having constrained speech, and being killed because of a prior
crime, and asks that Aaron be sent as assistant.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 27156-27164
quote_or_summary: God assures Moses that he will not be killed, sends Moses and
Aaron with signs, and commands them to tell Pharaoh to send away the children
of Israel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 27165-27186
quote_or_summary: Pharaoh recalls raising Moses and accuses him of a past deed.
Moses acknowledges the deed, says he fled in fear, says God bestowed wisdom and
apostleship on him, and points to Pharaoh's enslavement of the children of Israel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 27187-27201
quote_or_summary: Pharaoh asks who the Lord of all creatures is. Moses answers by
naming the Lord of heaven and earth, the forefathers, and the east and west. Pharaoh
threatens to imprison Moses if he takes any god besides Pharaoh.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 27202-27210
quote_or_summary: Moses offers a convincing miracle, casts down his rod so that
it becomes a visible serpent, and draws out his hand so that it appears white
to spectators. Pharaoh calls him a skilful magician and accuses him of sorcery.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 27211-27221
quote_or_summary: The princes advise delaying Moses and Aaron and summoning skilful
magicians. The magicians assemble on a solemn day, ask about reward, and Pharaoh
promises reward and nearness to his person.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 27222-27229
quote_or_summary: The magicians cast ropes and rods and invoke Pharaoh's might.
Moses casts his rod; it swallows what they had falsely made to appear as serpents.
The magicians prostrate and profess belief in the Lord of Moses and Aaron; Pharaoh
objects that they believed without his permission.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: high
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. No external comparison
claims were added; taxonomy references are limited to directly supported available
labels.
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 motif candidates cite passage evidence. Comparison claims are left empty because the passage itself does not require a cross-text historical or archetypal comparison.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l27130-l27229
passage_sha256=936eb202e36709cd6e862385585f19e97e35ffed820cef62cb8b962bbe72d9df