batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l6007-l6058
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l6007-l6058
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: SECTION III / SECTION IV. / SECTION V. / OF CERTAIN NEGATIVE PRECEPTS IN
THE KORN.; lines 6007-6058
start: '6007'
end: '6058'
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: Gaming is prohibited by the Korn in the same passages, and for the same reasons,
as wine.
summary: The passage discusses abstention from wine, the Qur'anic prohibition of
gaming, the pre-Islamic Arab practice of casting lots with arrows over a slaughtered
camel, later legal treatment of games of chance, conditional allowance of chess,
and objections to carved figurative chess pieces as images.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: The passage says many pious Jews and primitive Christians abstained from wine,
and that some Christians condemned wine as sinful.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: The passage states that gaming is prohibited by the Koran in the same passages
and for the same reasons as wine.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: The word al Meisar is explained as a manner of casting lots by arrows practiced
by pagan Arabs.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: In the described lot-casting, a young camel was bought, killed, and divided
into portions for seven participants.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Eleven headless and featherless arrows were used; seven were marked with notches
and four were unmarked blanks.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: An indifferent person drew the arrows from a bag, with another person nearby
to receive them and monitor fairness.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Persons receiving marked arrows won shares according to the marks, while persons
receiving blanks received no camel meat and paid the full price.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:8
text: The winners and losers did not eat the flesh; the whole camel was distributed
among the poor.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:9
text: The passage says the custom was forbidden by Mohammed because it caused quarrels
and resentment when winners insulted losers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:10
text: Commentators are said to include all games subject to hazard or chance under
the name of lots.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:11
text: Chess is described as generally allowed by Mohammedan doctors because it depends
on skill rather than chance, under restrictions about devotion and betting.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: The passage says Mohammed is supposed to have especially disliked carved chess
pieces representing men, elephants, horses, and dromedaries, which some commentators
connect with prohibited images.
category: object
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: Named as forbidding the gaming custom and as supposed to have disliked
carved chess pieces.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: pagan Arabs
description: Described as practicing al Meisar and playing with carved chess figures.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: seven lot-casting participants
description: Persons who cast lots for camel portions in the described game.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: the poor
description: Recipients among whom the whole camel was distributed.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: commentators and Mohammedan doctors
description: Authorities who interpret lots to include games of chance and discuss
the legality of chess and images.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: pious Jews and primitive Christians
description: Groups described as abstaining from wine, with some Christians condemning
wine as sinful.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
roles:
- id: role:1
label: religious prohibiter
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: The passage says the gaming custom was forbidden by Mohammed and that he
is supposed to have disliked carved figurative pieces.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:8
- id: role:2
label: practitioners of pre-Islamic gaming customs
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The passage identifies al Meisar as practiced by pagan Arabs and refers to
their carved game pieces.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:8
- id: role:3
label: gamblers or lot-casters
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: They cast lots by arrows for shares of the camel and bore the gains or costs
of the draw.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: charitable recipients
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: The camel flesh was distributed among the poor rather than eaten by winners
or losers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: role:5
label: legal-religious interpreters
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: They extend the prohibition to games of chance and discuss chess and images.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: role:6
label: wine abstainers
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: They are described as abstaining from wine or condemning its use as sinful.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: wine
literal_form: wine
associated_figures:
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: lots by arrows
literal_form: headless and featherless arrows, some marked and some blank
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: sym:3
label: slaughtered camel divided into portions
literal_form: young camel bought, killed, and divided into ten or twenty-eight parts
associated_figures:
- fig:3
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: sym:4
label: bag of arrows
literal_form: bag holding the arrows for drawing lots
associated_figures:
- fig:3
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: carved chess images
literal_form: little figures of men, elephants, horses, and dromedaries
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Wine abstention as precedent
summary: The passage presents earlier and local examples of pious abstention from
wine before discussing Islamic prohibition.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Al Meisar lot-casting over a camel
summary: Seven participants cast marked and blank arrows from a bag to determine
shares and liabilities for a slaughtered camel.
figure_refs:
- fig:2
- fig:3
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:3
label: Distribution and prohibition of the gaming custom
summary: The camel flesh is distributed to the poor, but the custom is said to be
forbidden because it produces quarrels and resentment.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:4
label: Legal interpretation of chance games and chess
summary: Commentators broaden the prohibition to games of chance, while chess is
conditionally allowed as a skill game without betting or neglect of devotion.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Figurative chess pieces as prohibited images
summary: Carved chess pieces representing living beings are linked by some commentators
to prohibited images.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Prohibition of intoxicants and gaming
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage states that gaming is prohibited by the Koran in the same passages
and for the same reasons as wine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: The excerpt discusses the prohibition through Sale's explanatory commentary,
not by quoting the Qur'anic verses directly.
- id: motif:2
label: Lot-casting with marked and blank arrows
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage gives a detailed procedure for al Meisar, including marked arrows,
blanks, a bag, a neutral drawer, winnings, and liabilities.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The motif is a social gaming practice rather than a narrative myth episode.
- id: motif:3
label: Charitable distribution within ostentatious gambling
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The camel flesh is distributed among the poor, while the passage characterizes
the act as driven by pride and public shame.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage explicitly treats the custom as socially harmful despite its
benefit to the poor.
- id: motif:4
label: Religious rejection of games of chance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Commentators extend the prohibition of lots to all games subject to hazard
or chance, such as dice and cards.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: This is a legal-moral pattern, not a mythic narrative motif.
- id: motif:5
label: Skill game conditionally distinguished from gambling
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Chess is allowed by many doctors because it depends on skill, provided it
does not hinder devotions and no betting occurs.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: high
cautions: The passage notes some disagreement about chess.
- id: motif:6
label: Prohibition of figurative images in game pieces
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Carved chess pieces shaped as men and animals are connected by some commentators
with prohibited images.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage reports this as the view of some commentators and phrases
Mohammed's dislike as supposed.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage presents Islamic wine prohibition against a background of similar
abstention among pious Jews, primitive Christians, and devout persons of Mohammed's
tribe.
claim_level: same_function
target: wine abstention among Jews, primitive Christians, and local tribal devotees
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The claim is limited to the passage's reported parallels and does not
establish direct borrowing.
- id: claim:2
claim: The passage describes the Qur'anic prohibition of gaming as addressing a
pre-Islamic pagan Arab lot-casting practice.
claim_level: historical_contact
target: pagan Arab al Meisar lot-casting by arrows
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: The passage is a later English commentary and should be checked against
Arabic sources and Qur'anic context.
- id: claim:3
claim: The passage links objections to carved chess figures with a wider prohibition
of images in the Koran as understood by some commentators.
claim_level: same_function
target: prohibited images associated with carved game figures
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage attributes the interpretation only to some commentators
and does not quote the relevant Qur'anic passage.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 6007-6012
quote_or_summary: Many pious Jews and primitive Christians are said to have abstained
from wine; some Christians condemned wine as sinful; Mohammed is said to have
had nearer examples in devout persons of his tribe.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: lines 6012-6017
quote_or_summary: "“Gaming is prohibited by the Korn ... as wine”; al Meisar is
explained as casting lots by arrows, practiced by pagan Arabs."
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: lines 6017-6023
quote_or_summary: A young camel was bought, killed, and divided; seven persons participated;
eleven arrows were prepared, seven marked with notches and four unmarked.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 6023-6029
quote_or_summary: The arrows were placed in a bag and drawn by an impartial person;
marked arrows won shares and blank arrows received no share while paying the full
price.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: lines 6029-6037
quote_or_summary: Neither winners nor losers ate the flesh; it was distributed among
the poor. The custom was forbidden by Mohammed as causing quarrels and resentment
from winners insulting losers.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: lines 6038-6043
quote_or_summary: Commentators include all games subject to hazard or chance under
the name of lots and forbidden games, including dice, cards, and tables.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: lines 6043-6051
quote_or_summary: Chess is described as nearly the only allowed game because it
depends on skill, with restrictions against hindering devotions and against betting.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: lines 6051-6058
quote_or_summary: Mohammed is supposed to have disliked carved chess pieces used
by pagan Arabs, including figures of men, elephants, horses, and dromedaries;
some commentators identify these with prohibited images.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: medium
notes: The extraction is based only on the supplied English public-domain passage.
Motif labels are descriptive because the available taxonomy does not closely match
the legal and social patterns in the excerpt.
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 available symbol taxonomy refs were applied, because the passage's central objects are wine, arrows, camel, bag, and carved game figures rather than the provided symbol list.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l6007-l6058
passage_sha256=8352d259958f78b8cc7b64be8bc14a459f6602165c53a5c8806c0aeae7005734