batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l31587-l31688
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l31587-l31688
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER XXXVIII. / ENTITLED, S.;
REVEALED AT MECCA. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 31587-31688
start: '31587'
end: '31688'
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 includes Sale's notes on a Solomon legend involving an image,
a stolen signet, a devil's temporary rule, and Solomon's recovery of the ring
from a fish. It then presents Qur'anic admonition concerning purified prophets,
the reward of the pious in gardens, punishment and dispute among the damned in
hell, Muhammad as a warner, and the creation of man from clay followed by angelic
prostration except for Eblis, who claims superiority because he was made of fire.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A note states that the received exposition of the Solomon passage is taken
from a Talmudic fable.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Solomon brings Jerda from Sidon; she mourns her father, and an image is made
for her consolation and worshipped by her and her maids.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Solomon is informed of the idolatry, breaks the image, chastises the woman,
and goes into the desert to weep and supplicate God.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Solomon's signet is described as the object on which his kingdom depended.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A devil named Sakhar comes to Amna in Solomon's shape, receives the ring,
possesses the kingdom, and sits on the throne.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Solomon's outward appearance changes, he is not recognized by his subjects,
and he wanders and begs for subsistence.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:7
text: After forty days, Sakhar throws the signet into the sea; a fish swallows it,
and Solomon later finds the ring in the fish's belly and recovers the kingdom.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: Solomon captures Sakhar, ties a great stone to his neck, and throws him into
the lake of Tiberias.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:9
text: The pious are promised gardens of perpetual abode with open gates, fruit,
drink, and companions.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The transgressors are assigned hell, burning, scalding water, corruption,
and other punishments.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Seducers and those seduced by them dispute in hell and ask for increased torment
for the one who brought punishment upon them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:12
text: Muhammad is told to say that he is only a warner and that there is no god
except the one God, lord of heaven and earth.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:13
text: God says he is about to create man of clay, form him, breathe his spirit into
him, and command the angels to worship him.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: The angels worship, except Eblis, who is described as proud and unbelieving.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: obs:15
text: Eblis says he is more excellent than man because he was created of fire while
man was created of clay.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Solomon
description: A ruler whose kingdom depends on his signet; he loses and recovers
the kingdom in the note.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Jerda
description: Daughter of the slain king of Sidon and Solomon's favourite, who mourns
her father and worships the image made for her consolation.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: devils
description: Beings ordered to make an image for Jerda; one devil, Sakhar, later
deceives Amna.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Asf
description: Solomon's vizir who informs him of the idolatry practiced under his
roof.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Amna
description: A concubine of Solomon entrusted with the signet while Solomon eased
or washed himself.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Sakhar
description: A devil who appears in Solomon's shape, obtains the signet, possesses
the kingdom, and later is cast into the lake of Tiberias.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: God
description: The deity addressed by Solomon, giver of correction, judge of the pious
and transgressors, and creator of man.
role_refs:
- role:8
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: the pious / the righteous
description: Those promised an excellent return in gardens of perpetual abode.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: transgressors / infidels / inhabitants of hell fire
description: Those assigned hell and described as disputing there.
role_refs:
- role:11
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: seducers
description: Those said to have guided a troop into hell and to be thrown there
with them.
role_refs:
- role:12
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: the seduced
description: Those who reproach their seducers in hell.
role_refs:
- role:13
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:12
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: Addressed as a warner and public preacher who receives revelation.
role_refs:
- role:14
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:13
name_or_label: angels
description: Beings commanded to worship the newly formed man; all worship except
Eblis.
role_refs:
- role:15
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:14
name_or_label: Eblis
description: The being who refuses to worship man, is proud and unbelieving, and
claims superiority because he was created of fire.
role_refs:
- role:16
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: fig:15
name_or_label: man
description: A being God says he will create from clay, form, and breathe his spirit
into.
role_refs:
- role:17
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: fig:16
name_or_label: Ismael, Elisha, and Dhu'lkefl
description: Named together as good men in the admonition.
role_refs:
- role:18
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
roles:
- id: role:1
label: king whose authority is tied to a signet
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The note says Solomon's kingdom depended on his signet.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: penitent ruler
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: After discovering idolatry, Solomon goes into the desert to weep and supplicate
God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:3
label: mourning favorite and image worshipper
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Jerda mourns her father and worships the image made for her consolation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:4
label: devil or demonic agent
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:6
basis: The note identifies image-makers as devils and Sakhar as a devil.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: informer or vizir
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Asf informs Solomon of the idolatry.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: custodian of the signet
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Amna has the ring in her custody when Sakhar comes to her.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:7
label: deceptive usurper
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Sakhar takes Solomon's shape, receives the ring, and sits on the throne.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:8
label: divine judge and rewarder
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The passage contrasts reward for the righteous with punishment for transgressors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: creator
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: God says he will create man from clay, form him, and breathe his spirit into
him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:10
label: rewarded righteous
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The pious are promised gardens and unfailing provision.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:11
label: punished damned
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: Transgressors are cast into hell and undergo punishments.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:12
label: misleaders
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The seducers are said to have guided a troop into hell.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:13
label: misled followers
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: The seduced blame those who brought punishment upon them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:14
label: warner and public preacher
assigned_to:
- fig:12
basis: Muhammad is instructed to say he is a warner and that revelation came to
him as proof of public preaching.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:15
label: obedient heavenly beings
assigned_to:
- fig:13
basis: The angels worship after the command, except Eblis.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
- id: role:16
label: proud refuser
assigned_to:
- fig:14
basis: Eblis refuses and states that he is more excellent because made of fire.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: role:17
label: newly created human
assigned_to:
- fig:15
basis: Man is described as created of clay and animated by God's spirit.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:18
label: good men
assigned_to:
- fig:16
basis: The passage says Ismael, Elisha, and Dhu'lkefl were good men.
evidence_refs:
- ev:11
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: signet of kingship
literal_form: Solomon's signet ring
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: image made for consolation and worship
literal_form: image of Jerda's father
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: sea and fish containing the lost signet
literal_form: sea, fish, and ring in the fish's belly
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:4
label: lake of punishment for Sakhar
literal_form: lake of Tiberias with a stone tied to Sakhar's neck
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: gardens of perpetual abode
literal_form: open-gated gardens with fruits and drink
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: hell fire
literal_form: hell, fire, burning, scalding water, and corruption
associated_figures:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: fire as substance of Eblis
literal_form: fire
associated_figures:
- fig:14
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
- id: sym:8
label: clay as substance of man
literal_form: clay
associated_figures:
- fig:15
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Image worship in Solomon's house
summary: Jerda mourns her father; an image is made by devils for her consolation
and is worshipped by her and her maids until Solomon is informed and destroys
it.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Sakhar obtains the signet and usurps the throne
summary: Amna holds Solomon's signet; Sakhar appears in Solomon's shape, receives
the ring, gains the kingdom, and sits on the throne while Solomon wanders unrecognized.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Recovery of the signet from the fish
summary: After forty days, Sakhar throws the signet into the sea; a fish swallows
it, the fish is given to Solomon, and Solomon finds the ring and recovers the
kingdom.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Punishment of Sakhar
summary: Solomon takes Sakhar, ties a great stone to his neck, and throws him into
the lake of Tiberias.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: Reward of the pious
summary: The pious are promised gardens of perpetual abode, fruit, drink, companions,
and unfailing provision at the day of account.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Punishment and dispute in hell
summary: Transgressors, seducers, and the seduced are cast into hell, experience
burning and other punishments, and dispute over responsibility.
figure_refs:
- fig:9
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:7
label: Warning and monotheistic proclamation
summary: Muhammad is instructed to tell the idolaters that he is only a warner and
that there is no god except the one God, lord of heaven and earth.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:12
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:8
label: Creation of man and refusal of Eblis
summary: God announces the creation of man from clay and commands worship; the angels
worship, but Eblis refuses and argues that fire makes him superior to clay.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:13
- fig:14
- fig:15
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Lost royal signet and restored kingship
taxonomy_refs:
- royal_legitimacy
basis: Solomon's kingdom depends on the signet; the kingdom is lost when Sakhar
obtains it and restored when Solomon recovers the ring from a fish.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The passage presents this material in a translator's explanatory note
rather than in the Qur'anic verses themselves.
- id: motif:2
label: Deceptive shapeshifting usurper
taxonomy_refs:
- shapeshifter
basis: Sakhar comes in Solomon's shape, receives the ring, and rules from the throne
in the borrowed shape.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The figure is explicitly a devil; broader shapeshifter classification
is based on the described assumed shape.
- id: motif:3
label: Sacred or royal object taken by deception
taxonomy_refs:
- sacred_theft
basis: The signet on which the kingdom depends is obtained by Sakhar through assuming
Solomon's appearance.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: medium
cautions: The text does not use the word theft; the classification rests on deceptive
acquisition of the ring.
- id: motif:4
label: Divine judgment with paradise and hell
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: The passage contrasts gardens and provision for the pious with hell, fire,
scalding water, and dispute among the damned for transgressors.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage describes destinations and rewards/punishments but does not
narrate an individual's journey through the afterlife.
- id: motif:5
label: Creation of man from clay and heavenly prostration
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: God creates man from clay, breathes his spirit into him, and commands the
angels to worship him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: No available taxonomy reference precisely names clay creation or angelic
prostration.
- id: motif:6
label: Proud refusal based on elemental superiority
taxonomy_refs:
- duality
basis: Eblis refuses to worship and contrasts his creation from fire with man's
creation from clay.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The duality taxonomy is a broad fit for the stated contrast of fire and
clay.
- id: motif:7
label: Penitential supplication after household idolatry
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: After discovering the worship of the image in his house, Solomon breaks it
and goes into the desert to weep and supplicate God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: This motif is limited to the note's summary and not linked to an available
taxonomy reference.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The explanatory note explicitly identifies the Solomon signet episode as
deriving from a Talmudic fable, supporting comparison with that nearby narrative
tradition.
claim_level: same_motif
target: Talmudic fable about Solomon, the signet, and the devil Sakhar
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage cites the tradition generally and names references in notes,
but the source text excerpt does not provide the Talmudic passage itself for direct
comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 31587-31588 and note 1
quote_or_summary: The note says the most received exposition is taken from a Talmudic
fable and cites Talmudic/Yalkut material.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 31589-31599
quote_or_summary: Solomon brings Jerda from Sidon; an image of her father is made,
worshipped, then broken after Asf informs Solomon; Solomon goes into the desert
to weep and supplicate God.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 31600-31610
quote_or_summary: Solomon entrusts the signet on which his kingdom depends to Amna;
Sakhar comes in Solomon's shape, obtains the ring, rules on the throne, and Solomon
wanders unrecognized.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 31610-31615
quote_or_summary: After forty days, Sakhar throws the signet into the sea; a fish
swallows it, Solomon finds it in the fish, recovers the kingdom, and throws Sakhar
into the lake of Tiberias with a stone tied to his neck.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 31637-31651
quote_or_summary: 'The pious are promised an excellent return: gardens of perpetual
abode with open gates, fruits, drink, companions, and unfailing provision.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 31652-31667
quote_or_summary: Transgressors are assigned hell, burning, scalding water, corruption,
and dispute between seducers and the seduced, including a plea for doubled torment.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 31668-31672
quote_or_summary: Muhammad is told to declare himself a warner and proclaim the
one God, lord of heaven and earth, with a weighty message that listeners turn
aside from.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 31673-31682
quote_or_summary: The revelation concerns the exalted princes disputing about human
creation; God says he will create man from clay, form him, breathe his spirit
into him, and command the angels to worship.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 31682-31688
quote_or_summary: All the angels worship except Eblis, who is proud and unbelieving;
when questioned, he says he is more excellent because he was created from fire
while man was created from clay.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:10
type: summary
locator: 31620-31621
quote_or_summary: A note says some suppose Job had two springs, one hot for bathing
and one cold for drinking.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:11
type: summary
locator: 31635-31637
quote_or_summary: Ismael, Elisha, and Dhu'lkefl are named and described as good
men.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Extraction covers both translator's notes and the Qur'anic passage within
the supplied line range. Motif labels are cautious and based only on supplied
text and available taxonomy references.
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: |-
No external sources were used. Evidence is summarized rather than quoted.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l31587-l31688
passage_sha256=14c4c5d892b8d33e4f748ebef58f65fcbacf4007898b834878cbb85e390f5ec7