batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l3020-l3067
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l3020-l3067
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: THE KORAN. / PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE / SECTION I. / SECTION II.; lines 3020-3067
start: '3020'
end: '3067'
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 recounts Mohammed's growing military and political power, his
attempted peaceful visit to Mecca, the oath of fealty at al Hodeibiya, a ten-year
truce with the Koreish, reports of his companions' intense veneration, and diplomatic
letters sent to foreign rulers, including accounts of Persian rejection and later
conversion, Heraclius's respectful reception, and a letter to the king of Ethiopia.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Mohammed set out with 1,400 men to visit the temple of Mecca in a peaceable
manner.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: At al Hodeibiya, the Koreish refused him entry into Mecca unless he forced
his way.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: Mohammed's troops took a solemn oath of fealty or homage to him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:4
text: A ten-year truce was concluded, allowing persons to enter into league either
with Mohammed or with the Koreish.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:5
text: An ambassador reported that Mohammed's companions caught water from his ablution,
licked up his spit, and gathered fallen hairs.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:6
text: Mohammed sent messengers with letters to neighboring princes inviting them
to Mohammedism.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: Khosr Parvz tore Mohammed's letter, and Mohammed responded that God would
tear his kingdom.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:8
text: Mohammed told a messenger that it had been revealed to him that Khosr had
been slain by his son Shiryeh.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:9
text: Badhn and the Persians with him turned Mohammedans after receiving confirmation
of Khosr's death and an order not to disturb the prophet.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:10
text: Heraclius received Mohammed's letter respectfully, laid it on his pillow,
and dismissed the bearer honourably.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: Leader and prophet whose power increases, who leads men toward Mecca,
receives homage, concludes a truce, and sends letters to foreign rulers.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Mohammed's troops or companions
description: The men accompanying Mohammed, described as taking an oath of fealty
and showing extreme respect for him.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: The Koreish / those of Mecca
description: The Meccan group that denies Mohammed entry and later concludes a truce
with him.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Araw Ebn Masd
description: Prince of the tribe of Thakf, sent by those of Mecca as ambassador
to desire peace.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Khosr Parvz
description: King of Persia who receives Mohammed's letter with disdain and tears
it.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Badhn
description: King of Yaman, dependent on the Persians, who later turns Mohammedan
with the Persians with him.
role_refs:
- role:7
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Shiryeh
description: Son of Khosr, reported to have slain his father and to have ordered
Badhn to give the prophet no further disturbance.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Heraclius
description: Emperor who receives Mohammed's letter with respect and dismisses the
bearer honourably.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: King of Ethiopia
description: Ruler to whom Mohammed wrote; the passage notes Arab writers said he
had already been converted.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
roles:
- id: role:1
label: prophet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage calls Mohammed a prophet in connection with Badhn's order not
to disturb him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: military-political leader
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: His credit and power are said to rise through arms, and he leads 1,400 men
toward Mecca.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: sender of religious diplomatic letters
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: He sends messengers with letters inviting neighboring princes to Mohammedism.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: devoted companions or subjects
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: They take an oath of fealty and are described as highly revering Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: opposing treaty party
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They deny entry into Mecca and then conclude a truce with Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:6
label: peace ambassador
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: He is sent as ambassador by those of Mecca to desire peace.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:7
label: foreign ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: Each is named as a king or emperor receiving or connected with Mohammed's
diplomatic outreach.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: rejecter of the prophetic letter
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Khosr receives the letter with disdain and tears it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: convert ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Badhn and the Persians with him turn Mohammedans.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:10
label: son and successor-actor
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Shiryeh is named as Khosr's son who slew him and sent orders after his death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: temple of Mecca
literal_form: Temple of Mecca
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: sacred territory boundary
literal_form: al Hodeibiya, situated partly within and partly without the sacred
territory
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: oath of fealty
literal_form: Solemn oath of fealty or homage
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: ablution water
literal_form: Water used by Mohammed in ablution before prayers
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:5
label: bodily traces
literal_form: Spit and fallen hair gathered by companions
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:6
label: diplomatic religious letters
literal_form: Letters sent by Mohammed to neighboring princes inviting them to Mohammedism
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:8
- fig:9
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:7
label: torn letter
literal_form: Khosr's tearing of Mohammed's letter
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:8
label: pillow reception of letter
literal_form: Heraclius laying Mohammed's letter on his pillow
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Hodeibiya refusal, oath, and truce
summary: Mohammed approaches Mecca peacefully with 1,400 men, is refused entry by
the Koreish, receives his troops' oath of fealty, and concludes a ten-year truce
through an ambassador.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Companions' veneration of Mohammed
summary: Araw Ebn Masd reports that Mohammed's companions show exceptional reverence
by preserving water from his ablution, his spit, and his fallen hair.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Letters to rulers and Persian rejection
summary: Mohammed sends letters inviting neighboring rulers to his religion; Khosr
tears the letter, Mohammed announces divine ruin for his kingdom, and subsequent
events lead Badhn and Persians with him to convert.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Heraclius receives the letter respectfully
summary: Heraclius receives Mohammed's letter with respect, lays it on his pillow,
and dismisses the bearer honourably, though the passage says some claimed he feared
losing his crown if he professed the new faith.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Letter to the king of Ethiopia
summary: Mohammed writes similarly to the king of Ethiopia; the passage notes that
Arab writers claimed this king had already converted.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: oath-bound political covenant
taxonomy_refs:
- covenant
basis: The troops take a solemn oath of fealty to Mohammed, and a formal ten-year
truce establishes permitted alliances with either side.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is historical prose, not a mythic covenant narrative; classification
is based only on the oath and treaty structure.
- id: motif:2
label: devotional preservation of a holy person's bodily traces
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Companions collect ablution water, lick up spit, and gather fallen hair as
signs of extraordinary reverence for Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No taxonomy reference is supplied for relic or bodily-trace veneration.
- id: motif:3
label: rejected sacred message followed by royal downfall
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Khosr tears Mohammed's letter; Mohammed says God shall tear his kingdom,
and the passage reports Khosr's subsequent death by his son and loss of power
over Badhn's response.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the sequence through later historical narration;
causality is asserted through Mohammed's speech and reported revelation, but not
independently demonstrated.
- id: motif:4
label: religious mission through letters to foreign rulers
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Mohammed sends messengers with letters to neighboring princes inviting them
to Mohammedism, with varied responses from Persia, Yaman, Byzantium, and Ethiopia.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: This is a diplomatic expansion pattern rather than a listed taxonomy motif
family.
- id: motif:5
label: ruler constrained by fear of losing crown
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: The passage reports a claim that Heraclius would have professed the new faith
if he had not feared losing his crown.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage itself marks the claim as something 'some pretend,' so it
should be treated cautiously.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 3020-3031
quote_or_summary: Mohammed's power increases; he sets out with 1,400 men for a peaceful
visit to Mecca; the Koreish bar entry; his troops swear fealty; an ambassador
negotiates a ten-year truce allowing leagues with either side.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 3032-3041
quote_or_summary: Araw Ebn Masd reports that Mohammed's companions respect him more
than subjects of Roman or Persian rulers, catching his ablution water, licking
his spit, and gathering fallen hair.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 3042-3055
quote_or_summary: Mohammed sends letters to neighboring princes; Khosr tears his
letter; Mohammed says God will tear Khosr's kingdom; he reports revelation of
Khosr's death by Shiryeh; Badhn later receives confirmation and converts with
Persians around him.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 3056-3062
quote_or_summary: Heraclius receives Mohammed's letter respectfully, lays it on
his pillow, dismisses the bearer honourably, and is said by some to have feared
losing his crown if he professed the faith.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 3063-3067
quote_or_summary: Mohammed writes similarly to the king of Ethiopia; the passage
notes that Arab writers say he had already been converted.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: Literal extraction is straightforward from the supplied passage. Motif labels
are candidate analytical groupings and require human review, especially where
the passage is historical and polemical in tone. No comparison claims were added
because the passage does not itself support explicit cross-tradition comparison.
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. Available taxonomy references were applied only where directly supported by passage content.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l3020-l3067
passage_sha256=9c8b454cab9ed88f62f14070946687ea6a8eaeef7516ad5470847a56b8736456