batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l4120-l4169
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l4120-l4169
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: SECTION I. / SECTION II. / SECTION III / SECTION IV.; lines 4120-4169
start: '4120'
end: '4169'
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 Islamic eschatological signs in Sale''s commentary:
the time of the final day is known only to God, lesser signs include decay of
faith, social disorder, war, distress, and tribute refusal, while greater signs
include the sun rising in the west, the emergence of a composite beast from the
earth that marks believers and unbelievers, a miraculous conquest of Constantinople,
and the coming of the Antichrist.'
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The time of the day is said to be secret to all except God, and Gabriel is
described as acknowledging ignorance when Mohammed asked him about it.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The approach of the day is said to be knowable by signs divided into lesser
and greater signs.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: obs:3
text: The lesser signs include decay of faith, the elevation of mean persons, a
maid-servant becoming mother of her mistress or master, tumults, war with the
Turks, distress, tribute refusal by Irk and Syria, and Medina's buildings reaching
Ahb or Yahb.
category: other
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: One greater sign is the sun rising in the west.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A beast is said to rise out of the earth at or near Mecca, Mount Saf, Tyef,
or another place.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: The beast is described as enormous and composite, with body parts and traits
of several animals.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: The beast carries the rod of Moses and the seal of Solomon, strikes believers
on the face with one and marks unbelievers on the face with the other.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: The beast is said to demonstrate the vanity of all religions except Islam
and to speak Arabic.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: Constantinople is said to be taken by 70,000 descendants of Isaac when the
walls fall as they proclaim God's oneness and greatness.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:10
text: The conquerors are said to abandon spoil and return when news arrives of the
Antichrist's appearance.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:11
text: The Antichrist is called al Masih al Dajjal, described as one-eyed, and marked
on the forehead with letters signifying infidel.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: God
description: The only one said to know the secret time of the day.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Gabriel
description: The angel who acknowledges ignorance about the time when Mohammed asks.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: The figure who asks Gabriel about the time of the day.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: The beast
description: A great composite beast rising from the earth, carrying the rod of
Moses and seal of Solomon, and marking believers and unbelievers.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Believers
description: Persons marked on the face with the word meaning believer.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Unbelievers
description: Persons marked on the face with the word meaning infidel.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Posterity of Isaac
description: Seventy thousand descendants of Isaac who take Constantinople without
force of arms.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Antichrist / al Masih al Dajjal
description: The false or lying Christ, one-eyed and marked on the forehead with
letters signifying infidel.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
roles:
- id: role:1
label: holder of secret knowledge
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The timing of the day is secret to all but God.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:2
label: ignorant angelic respondent
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Gabriel acknowledges ignorance when asked about the time.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: questioner
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Mohammed asks Gabriel about the time.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: earth-emerging portent
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The beast rises out of the earth as one of the greater signs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:5
label: marker of true religious status
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The beast marks believers and unbelievers on the face so every person may
be known for what he really is.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: marked believers
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Believers are struck and marked on the face with a word meaning believer.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:7
label: marked unbelievers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Unbelievers are marked on the face with a word meaning infidel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: miraculous conquerors
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: They take Constantinople without force of arms as the walls fall during their
proclamation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:9
label: end-time adversary
assigned_to:
- fig:8
basis: The Antichrist appears as one of the greater signs and is called the false
or lying Christ.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: Sun rising in the west
literal_form: The sun rising in the west
associated_figures: []
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: Composite earth beast
literal_form: A beast rising out of the earth with traits of bull, hog, elephant,
stag, ostrich, lion, tiger, cat, ram, camel, and ass
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: Rod of Moses
literal_form: Rod carried by the beast and used to strike believers on the face
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: Seal of Solomon
literal_form: Seal carried by the beast and used to mark unbelievers on the face
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: Facial marks of believer and infidel
literal_form: Words meaning believer and infidel marked on faces
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:9
- id: sym:6
label: Falling city walls
literal_form: Walls of Constantinople falling while God's oneness and greatness
are proclaimed
associated_figures:
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Secret timing and signs of the day
summary: The passage states that the timing of the day is known only to God, while
its approach is indicated by lesser and greater signs.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: scene:2
label: Lesser signs of decline and disorder
summary: The lesser signs are listed as religious decay, disrupted social order,
tumults, wars, distress, tribute refusal, and urban expansion around Medina.
figure_refs: []
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: 'Greater signs: reversed sun and earth beast'
summary: The greater signs begin with the sun rising in the west and the appearance
of a huge composite beast from the earth.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Beast marks believers and unbelievers
summary: The beast carries the rod of Moses and the seal of Solomon, marks believers
and unbelievers on the face, speaks Arabic, and declares Islam uniquely valid.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Miraculous taking of Constantinople
summary: Seventy thousand descendants of Isaac take Constantinople without force
of arms when its walls fall during their proclamation, then abandon spoil at news
of the Antichrist.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: scene:6
label: Appearance of the Antichrist
summary: The Antichrist, called al Masih al Dajjal, is described as one-eyed and
marked on the forehead with letters signifying infidel.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Hidden timing of the final day
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The day’s time is known only to God, while even Gabriel is ignorant of it.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage is commentary summarizing eschatological tradition rather
than a narrative scene from the Qur'anic text itself.
- id: motif:2
label: End-time signs before judgment
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The passage explicitly organizes preceding portents into lesser and greater
signs of the approaching day.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
confidence: high
cautions: The available taxonomy lacks a specific apocalypse or eschatological-portents
category; divine_judgment is the closest supplied reference.
- id: motif:3
label: Monstrous beast revealing true allegiance
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: A composite beast rises from the earth and marks believers and unbelievers
so each person may be known for what he really is.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- ev:5
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: The passage’s description is mediated by Sale and includes polemical commentary.
- id: motif:4
label: Miraculous conquest by sacred proclamation
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Constantinople’s walls fall while the conquerors cry that there is no god
but God and God is most great, rather than by force of arms.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: No close supplied taxonomy reference clearly covers this motif.
- id: motif:5
label: End-time false messiah marked as infidel
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: The Antichrist is described as the false or lying Christ, one-eyed, and marked
with letters signifying infidel.
evidence_refs:
- ev:9
confidence: medium
cautions: The extracted passage cuts off during the Antichrist description, so the
episode is incomplete.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage itself links the described earth beast to the beast in Revelation,
calling it the result of a confused idea of that figure.
claim_level: same_motif
target: The beast in Revelation chapter 13
evidence_refs:
- ev:10
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The statement is Sale's evaluative comparison within the passage; the
excerpt does not provide Revelation's text for direct comparison.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 4120-4124
quote_or_summary: The time of the day is secret to all but God; Gabriel acknowledges
ignorance when Mohammed asks about it; signs may indicate its approach.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 4125-4136
quote_or_summary: The lesser signs include decay of faith, low persons raised to
dignity, social inversion involving a maid-servant, tumults, war with the Turks,
distress, tribute refusal by Irk and Syria, and Medina's buildings reaching Ahb
or Yahb.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 4137-4139
quote_or_summary: '"The sun''s rising in the west" is listed as the first greater
sign.'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 4140-4143
quote_or_summary: A beast will rise out of the earth, with possible locations including
the temple of Mecca, Mount Saf, Tyef, or another place.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 4143-4151
quote_or_summary: The beast is described as immense and composite, with features
of bull, hog, elephant, stag, ostrich, lion, tiger, cat, ram, camel, and ass.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 4151-4157
quote_or_summary: The beast carries Moses' rod and Solomon's seal; it cannot be
overtaken or escaped, and marks believers and unbelievers on the face with words
identifying them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 4157-4159
quote_or_summary: The beast demonstrates the vanity of all religions except Islam
and speaks Arabic.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 4161-4166
quote_or_summary: Seventy thousand descendants of Isaac take Constantinople without
arms when the walls fall as they proclaim God's oneness and greatness; they leave
the spoil after news of the Antichrist.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: lines 4167-4169
quote_or_summary: The Antichrist, called al Masih al Dajjal, is described as the
false or lying Christ, one-eyed, and marked on the forehead with letters meaning
infidel.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; concise summary.
- id: ev:10
type: quote
locator: lines 4159-4160
quote_or_summary: '"All this stuff seems to be the result of a confused idea of
the beast in the Revelations."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short excerpt.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: Extraction is based only on the supplied passage. Motif taxonomy mapping
is partly approximate because the supplied taxonomy has no specific eschatological-portents
or apocalypse category.
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: |-
Sale's passage is commentary and includes evaluative wording; descriptions have been kept literal or explicitly attributed to the passage where possible.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l4120-l4169
passage_sha256=f6ee36afb54262659e11e5f67ccdf61d3cc547b27df38964bb61c8ce0d25fb42