batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l36878-l36974
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l36878-l36974
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD. / CHAPTER LXX. / ENTITLED, THE STEPS;
REVEALED AT MECCA. / IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.; lines 36878-36974
start: '36878'
end: '36974'
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: '"by which the angels ascend unto him, and the spirit Gabriel also"'
summary: The passage announces unavoidable divine punishment, describes angels and
Gabriel ascending by the steps to God, portrays cosmic disruption and judgment,
contrasts the wicked with the devout, promises gardens to the righteous, and ends
with the threatened day when people come forth from their graves in humiliation.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A demand is made for vengeance to fall on unbelievers, and the passage says
no one can avert what is inflicted by God.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: God is called possessor of the steps, by which angels and Gabriel ascend to
him in a day whose space is fifty thousand years.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: The heaven is said to become like molten brass and the mountains like colored
wool scattered by wind on a certain day.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The wicked person wishes to redeem himself from the punishment by surrendering
close kin and everyone on earth, but this is rejected.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Hell fire is described as dragging people by their scalps and calling one
who turned away from faith and hoarded riches.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: Human beings are described as impatient, complaining when touched by evil
and niggardly when good comes.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The devout are characterized by persevering in prayers, giving a due portion
of their substance, believing the day of judgment, dreading divine punishment,
keeping entrusted things and covenants, giving upright testimony, and observing
prayer rites.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Those who meet the described righteous qualities are said to dwell amid gardens
and be highly honored.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: God swears by the Lord of the east and west and states the ability to destroy
the unbelievers and substitute better people in their place.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: The threatened day is described as one when people come forth hastily from
their graves, with downcast looks and ignominy attending them.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: The divine being who inflicts unavoidable punishment, possesses the
steps, is ascended to by angels and Gabriel, and can destroy and replace the unbelievers.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: angels
description: Heavenly beings who ascend unto God by the steps.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Gabriel
description: The spirit Gabriel, who also ascends unto God by the steps.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: unbelievers
description: Those on whom vengeance and punishment are announced; later described
as gathering in companies and being threatened with a day of emergence from graves.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the wicked person
description: A person who wishes to redeem himself from punishment by giving up
family, kin, and all on earth.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: devout people
description: Those who persevere in prayer, give a fixed portion to the needy, believe
the day of judgment, dread divine punishment, keep trusts and covenants, and observe
prayer rites.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: hell fire
description: Fire that drags people by their scalps and calls the one who turned
back from faith and hoarded riches.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
roles:
- id: role:1
label: divine judge
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: God is the source of unavoidable punishment and threatens judgment on unbelievers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: possessor of the steps
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage calls God the possessor of the steps by which angels and Gabriel
ascend.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: ascending heavenly messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:3
basis: Angels and Gabriel ascend unto God by the steps.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: threatened sinner or unbeliever
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: Unbelievers and the wicked are associated with vengeance, punishment, failed
ransom, and the threatened day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:7
- id: role:5
label: righteous worshipper
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage lists prayer, almsgiving, belief, dread of punishment, covenant-keeping,
testimony, and prayer rites as qualities of those honored in gardens.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: punitive agent
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Hell fire drags and calls those who turned away and hoarded wealth.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: the steps
literal_form: steps by which angels and Gabriel ascend unto God
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:2
label: molten-brass heaven
literal_form: heaven becoming like molten brass
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: scattered wool-like mountains
literal_form: mountains like wool of various colours scattered by wind
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs:
- mountain
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:4
label: hell fire
literal_form: fire that drags by scalps and calls the apostate hoarder
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: gardens of honor
literal_form: gardens where the righteous shall dwell, highly honored
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: graves
literal_form: graves from which people come forth hastily on the threatened day
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: sym:7
label: east and west
literal_form: the east and the west invoked in a divine oath
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Demanded punishment and ascent by the steps
summary: A demand for vengeance against unbelievers is answered by the assertion
that divine punishment cannot be averted; angels and Gabriel ascend to God by
the steps over a vast span of time.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Cosmic upheaval and failed ransom
summary: On the day of punishment, heaven and mountains are transformed, social
bonds fail, and the wicked person unsuccessfully offers family and all earthly
beings as ransom.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Punitive hell fire
summary: Hell fire drags by the scalps and calls the person who turned away from
faith and hoarded riches.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: Qualities of the devout
summary: The passage contrasts ordinary human impatience with the practices of the
devout, including prayer, giving, belief in judgment, sexual restraint, keeping
trusts and covenants, and upright testimony.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Gardens for the righteous
summary: Those who maintain the named practices are promised honored dwelling amid
gardens.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: Threatened resurrection from graves
summary: The unbelievers are told to continue their vain disputes until the day
they meet the threat, when they come hastily from graves with downcast looks and
ignominy.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: ascent to the divine realm by steps
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: Angels and Gabriel ascend unto God by the steps over a vast cosmological
time span.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: high
cautions: The passage names the steps and ascent but does not narrate a human ascent
journey.
- id: motif:2
label: day of divine judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage repeatedly describes an unavoidable punishment, a day of judgment,
dread of the Lord's punishment, and a threatened day for unbelievers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:4
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The extraction is limited to this passage and does not reconstruct broader
eschatology.
- id: motif:3
label: cosmic dissolution before judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- chaos
basis: The heaven becomes like molten brass and mountains become scattered wool
on the day of punishment.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy has no exact 'apocalypse' category; 'chaos' is used cautiously
for cosmic disruption.
- id: motif:4
label: punitive fire of the afterlife
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Hell fire drags and summons the one who turned away from faith and hoarded
riches.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The available motif families do not include a separate hell or underworld-fire
category.
- id: motif:5
label: resurrection from graves for judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
- divine_judgment
basis: The threatened day includes people coming forth hastily from their graves
with downcast looks and shame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage emphasizes emergence and humiliation, not a full narrative
of restored life.
- id: motif:6
label: righteous rewarded in gardens
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Those marked by prayer, charity, covenant-keeping, and other righteous practices
are said to dwell in honored gardens.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The garden reward is explicit, but no available taxonomy category specifically
names paradise gardens.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 36878-36888
quote_or_summary: A demanded vengeance on unbelievers is said to be unavoidable
from God, possessor of the steps; angels and Gabriel ascend to him in a day of
fifty thousand years.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 36889-36899
quote_or_summary: On a certain day the heaven becomes like molten brass, mountains
like scattered colored wool; friends do not ask after friends, and the wicked
seeks to ransom himself with family, kin, and all on earth.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 36900-36905
quote_or_summary: '"hell fire, dragging them by their scalps," calls the one who
turned back from faith and hoarded riches.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 36906-36917
quote_or_summary: Human beings are described as impatient and complaining or niggardly,
except the devout who persevere in prayer, give a due portion, believe the day
of judgment, and dread the Lord's punishment.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 36918-36935
quote_or_summary: The devout are further described by sexual restraint, keeping
trusts and covenants, upright testimony, and observing prayer rites; these shall
dwell honored amid gardens.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 36936-36943
quote_or_summary: Unbelievers run in companies; God swears by the Lord of east and
west that he can destroy them and replace them with better people.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 36944-36974
quote_or_summary: The threatened day is described as one when they come forth hastily
from graves as troops hasten to a standard, with downcast looks and ignominy.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source text; concise summary.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: high
notes: The passage is explicit about ascent, judgment, cosmic disturbance, hell
fire, resurrection from graves, and reward in gardens. Motif taxonomy mapping
is partly approximate where the available families lack exact eschatological categories.
No comparison claims are made because the passage itself does not support cross-textual
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 text and metadata. Footnote material was not separately extracted except where the main passage already supported the observation.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l36878-l36974
passage_sha256=1edef2bdc69919c827b00d31ff135468593bf904c0ee545ab872e22bac7f8c3e