batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l4011-l4062
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l4011-l4062
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: SECTION I. / SECTION II. / SECTION III / SECTION IV.; lines 4011-4062
start: '4011'
end: '4062'
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 describes beliefs about post-mortem examination in the grave,
grave punishment by dragons or other venomous beasts, Jewish parallels for the
beating of the sepulchre, objections about perceptibility and bodies lacking burial,
and the soul's interval state between death and resurrection, including different
classes of faithful souls.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: A corpse is described as being pressed into the earth and gnawed and stung
until the resurrection by ninety-nine dragons with seven heads each, or alternatively
by sins transformed into venomous beasts.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage says orthodox Mohammedans generally believe in an examination
of the sepulchre and make graves hollow so the dead may sit up more easily during
examination by angels.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The passage says the Mu'tazilites and perhaps others reject the examination
of the sepulchre.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: A Jewish account is summarized in which the angel of death comes to the grave,
the soul re-enters the body, the departed person is raised, examined, and struck
three times with a chain half of iron and half of fire.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: The Jewish grave torture is called Hibbut hakkeber, or the beating of the
sepulchre, and is said to apply generally except for specified exceptions.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The passage reports an answer to objections that people cannot perceive what
happens on the other side of the grave and that any body part capable of understanding
the angels' questions may be restored to life.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: The soul is said to be separated from the body by the angel of death, gently
for the good and violently for the wicked.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: After death, the soul enters Al Berzakh, described as the interval between
death and resurrection.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: If the departed person was a believer, two angels meet the soul and convey
it to heaven so its place may be assigned according to merit and degree.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: The souls of the faithful are divided into prophets, martyrs, and other believers;
prophets enter paradise immediately, and martyrs' spirits rest in the crops of
green birds that eat and drink in paradise.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: corpse or departed person
description: The dead person whose body or soul is examined, punished, restored,
or conveyed after death.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: examining angels
description: Angels associated with the grave examination and with questioning the
dead.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:4
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: dragons and venomous beasts
description: Ninety-nine seven-headed dragons, or sins becoming venomous beasts
such as dragons, scorpions, and serpents.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: angel of death
description: The angel who separates the soul from the body and, in the Jewish parallel,
comes to the grave and examines the departed person.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: soul
description: The soul separated from the body, entering Al Berzakh and, for believers,
met by angels and conveyed to heaven.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: two angels
description: Two angels who meet the believer's soul and convey it to heaven.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: prophets
description: The first class of faithful souls, admitted into paradise immediately.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: martyrs
description: The second class of faithful souls, whose spirits rest in the crops
of green birds in paradise.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: other believers
description: The third class of faithful souls, whose pre-resurrection state is
described as subject to various opinions.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: post-mortem examinee
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The departed person is examined in the sepulchre or grave.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:2
label: recipient of grave torment
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The corpse or body is described as gnawed, stung, struck, scattered, or reduced
to dust.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:3
label: post-mortem examiner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:4
basis: Angels or the angel of death question or examine the departed person.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: punitive tormentor
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Dragons, scorpions, serpents, or other venomous beasts sting or gnaw the
corpse.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:5
label: separator of soul and body
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The angel of death separates the soul from the body, with different treatment
for good and wicked persons.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:6
label: post-mortem traveler
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The soul enters an interval state and may be conveyed to heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:7
label: heavenly conveyers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Two angels meet the believer's soul and convey it to heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:8
label: immediate paradise recipients
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Prophets' souls are admitted into paradise immediately.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: martyr spirits in green birds
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: Martyrs' spirits rest in the crops of green birds in paradise.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:10
label: believers with disputed interim state
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The passage says there are various opinions about the state of other believers'
souls before resurrection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: sepulchre or grave
literal_form: grave, sepulchre, hollow grave
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: venomous grave beasts
literal_form: dragons, scorpions, serpents, venomous beasts
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:3
label: seven-headed dragons
literal_form: ninety-nine dragons with seven heads each
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: sym:4
label: chain of iron and fire
literal_form: a chain half of iron and half of fire
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs:
- fire
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:5
label: Al Berzakh
literal_form: the interval between death and the resurrection
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:6
label: heaven or paradise
literal_form: heaven and paradise as post-mortem destinations
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:7
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: green birds
literal_form: green birds whose crops hold martyrs' spirits
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:8
label: rivers of paradise
literal_form: rivers of paradise from which the green birds drink
associated_figures:
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs:
- water
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: grave torment by dragons or sins as beasts
summary: The corpse is pressed into the earth and tormented until the resurrection
by dragons or by sins taking the form of venomous beasts.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: orthodox grave examination
summary: The dead are believed to undergo examination in the sepulchre by angels,
and hollow graves are made to allow the dead to sit up more easily.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Jewish beating of the sepulchre
summary: In the Jewish parallel, the angel of death comes to the grave, the soul
re-enters the body, the dead person is examined, struck three times with a chain
of iron and fire, and returned to the grave as dust and ashes.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:4
label: answer to objections about unseen grave events
summary: The passage reports an explanation that grave events are imperceptible
to living humans and that even a body lacking normal burial can be restored sufficiently
to answer the angels.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: scene:5
label: soul enters the interval state
summary: The angel of death separates the soul from the body, after which the soul
enters Al Berzakh, the interval between death and resurrection.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:6
label: believer's soul conveyed to heaven
summary: Two angels meet the believer's soul and convey it to heaven for placement
according to merit and degree.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:7
label: three classes of faithful souls
summary: The souls of the faithful are divided into prophets, martyrs, and other
believers, with prophets immediately entering paradise and martyrs' spirits resting
in green birds in paradise.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
- sym:7
- sym:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: post-mortem judgment or examination in the grave
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage centers on examination of the sepulchre by angels and assigns
treatment after death according to belief, merit, or wickedness.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is commentary and reports doctrines and disputes rather than
narrating a single mythic episode.
- id: motif:2
label: intermediate afterlife journey and placement
taxonomy_refs:
- afterlife_journey_map
basis: The soul enters Al Berzakh, may be met by angels, and may be conveyed to
heaven for assigned placement.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The passage gives a doctrinal map in summary form, not a firsthand visionary
journey.
- id: motif:3
label: resurrection interval
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: Grave punishment and the soul's interval state are explicitly framed as lasting
until or between death and resurrection.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage references resurrection as an endpoint but does not describe
the resurrection event itself.
- id: motif:4
label: serpentine or draconic punishment of the dead
taxonomy_refs:
- serpent
basis: The dead are tormented by dragons, scorpions, serpents, or sins figured as
venomous beasts.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The available taxonomy includes serpent but not dragon; the passage notes
that some interpret these details figuratively.
- id: motif:5
label: ascent or conveyance of the soul to heaven
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: Two angels convey the believer's soul to heaven for assignment according
to merit and degree.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage says the soul is conveyed to heaven but does not elaborate
an ascent narrative.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage explicitly links Mohammedan beliefs about sepulchral examination
with Jewish traditions of grave examination and grave beating.
claim_level: historical_contact
target: Jewish Hibbut hakkeber or beating of the sepulchre tradition
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage presents Sale's assertion of borrowing; the supplied excerpt
does not provide independent historical evidence beyond the commentary's claim
and summary of parallels.
- id: claim:2
claim: The Islamic grave examination and the Jewish beating of the sepulchre share
a similar function as post-mortem testing or punitive treatment at the grave.
claim_level: same_function
target: grave examination and Hibbut hakkeber traditions
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
limitations: The same passage also notes that some Muslim groups reject the doctrine,
so it should not be generalized to all communities.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4011-4016
quote_or_summary: A corpse is pressed into the earth and gnawed or stung until resurrection
by ninety-nine seven-headed dragons, or sins become venomous beasts such as dragons,
scorpions, and serpents; some understand this figuratively.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 4017-4025
quote_or_summary: The examination of the sepulchre is said to be supported by tradition
and hinted in the Koran; orthodox Mohammedans generally believe it and make hollow
graves so the dead may sit up for angelic examination, while Mu'tazilites reject
it.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 4026-4039
quote_or_summary: 'The passage says these notions were borrowed from Jews and summarizes
a Jewish account: the angel of death sits on the grave, the soul re-enters and
raises the body, the dead is examined and struck three times with a chain half
iron and half fire, and the torture is called Hibbut hakkeber.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 4040-4048
quote_or_summary: In answer to objections about unheard cries and bodies burned,
eaten, or unburied, the passage says humans cannot perceive what happens beyond
the grave and that any part capable of understanding the angels' questions may
be restored to life.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 4049-4057
quote_or_summary: The soul is separated from the body by the angel of death, gently
for the good and violently for the wicked; it enters Al Berzakh, the interval
between death and resurrection; a believer's soul is met by two angels and conveyed
to heaven for assignment according to merit and degree.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 4057-4062
quote_or_summary: Faithful souls are divided into prophets, martyrs, and other believers;
prophets enter paradise immediately, martyrs' spirits rest in the crops of green
birds that eat fruits and drink rivers of paradise, and opinions vary about other
believers before resurrection.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary used.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The passage is a doctrinal and comparative commentary rather than a continuous
myth narrative. Motifs are extracted from reported beliefs within the supplied
excerpt only.
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 claims are based only on the supplied passage and metadata; no external normalization of transliterations or doctrines has been added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l4011-l4062
passage_sha256=566abb2313c050f72643c11e21772f34c9991b55481b80f3879fab8ee3d45380