batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l7320-l7371
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l7320-l7371
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
passage_locator:
label: SECTION VI. / OF THE INSTITUTIONS OF THE KORAN IN CIVIL AFFAIRS. / SECTION
VII. / SECTION VIII.; lines 7320-7371
start: '7320'
end: '7371'
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 gives brief biographical and exemplary anecdotes about Malec
Ebn Ans and Mohammed Ebn Edris al Shafei, founders of two orthodox legal schools,
emphasizing humility before God, reverence for traditions, confession of ignorance,
disciplined study and prayer, and restraint in speech.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Malec Ebn Ans is described as the author of the second orthodox sect, born
at Medina and dying there, with variant dates reported by authors.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: Malec is said to have had great regard for the traditions of Mohammed.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:3
text: During his last illness, a friend found Malec in tears and asked him the reason.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: Malec said he wished he had received stripes for every question he had decided
by his own opinion, and wished he had never given any decision of his own.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:5
text: Al Ghazli presents Malec's answer of not knowing to thirty-two of forty-eight
questions as evidence that Malec directed his knowledge to God's glory.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: The doctrine of Malec is said to be chiefly followed in Barbary and other
parts of Africa.
category: setting
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Mohammed Ebn Edris al Shafei is described as author of the third orthodox
sect, born in Palestine, educated at Mecca, and dying in Egypt.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: Ebn Hanbal first forbade his scholars to go near al Shafei but later followed
al Shafei on foot while al Shafei rode on a mule.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: Ebn Hanbal told a questioning scholar that attending al Shafei's mule would
bring profit.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: Al Shafei is said to have been the first to discourse of jurisprudence and
reduce that science into a method.
category: attribute
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:11
text: A saying reports that the relators of Mohammed's traditions were asleep until
al Shafei came and woke them.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:12
text: 'Al Shafei is said to have divided the night into three parts: study, prayer,
and sleep.'
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:13
text: Al Shafei is said never to have sworn by God either to confirm truth or affirm
falsehood.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:14
text: When asked for an opinion, al Shafei remained silent while considering whether
it was better to speak or hold his tongue.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: obs:15
text: A saying attributed to al Shafei states that whoever pretends to love the
world and its Creator at the same time is a liar.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Malec Ebn Ans
description: Founder of the second orthodox sect; a Medina-born doctor associated
with regard for the traditions of Mohammed, humility about legal decisions, and
confession of ignorance.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Friend visiting Malec
description: An unnamed friend who visited Malec in his last illness and asked why
he was weeping.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Al Ghazli
description: Authority cited as interpreting Malec's confession of ignorance as
proof that his knowledge was directed to God's glory.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Mohammed Ebn Edris al Shafei
description: Founder of the third orthodox sect; celebrated for learning, associated
with jurisprudential method, disciplined study and prayer, restraint in speech,
and criticism of loving the world and its Creator together.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- ev:8
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Ebn Hanbal
description: A contemporary who first distrusted al Shafei, then praised him and
followed him, saying even attending his mule would profit a student.
role_refs:
- role:5
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Questioning scholar of Ebn Hanbal
description: An unnamed scholar who asked Ebn Hanbal why he followed al Shafei after
forbidding others to do so.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: founder of an orthodox sect
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:4
basis: The passage calls Malec the second orthodox sect's figure and al Shafei the
author of the third orthodox sect.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:5
- id: role:2
label: reverer of Mohammed's traditions
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Malec is said to have paid great regard to the traditions of Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: humble legal authority
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Malec weeps over decisions made by his own opinion and frequently admits
he does not know.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: role:4
label: questioner
assigned_to:
- fig:2
- fig:6
basis: The friend asks Malec the reason for weeping; the scholar asks Ebn Hanbal
why he follows al Shafei.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:5
label: evaluator of another scholar
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:5
basis: Al Ghazli interprets Malec's ignorance as godly; Ebn Hanbal praises and follows
al Shafei.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: organizer of jurisprudence
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Al Shafei is said to have reduced jurisprudence into a method.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:7
label: disciplined pious scholar
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Al Shafei divides the night among study, prayer, and sleep, avoids oaths,
and considers whether to speak.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: role:8
label: converted admirer
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: Ebn Hanbal first forbids his students from approaching al Shafei but later
follows him and commends attending him.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: tears of remorse
literal_form: Malec's tears during his last illness
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:2
label: stripes for judgments
literal_form: Stripes wished for by Malec in exchange for questions decided by his
own opinion
associated_figures:
- fig:1
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: sun and health praise image
literal_form: Ebn Hanbal's comparison of al Shafei to the sun to the world and health
to the body
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:4
label: mule attended by disciple
literal_form: Al Shafei riding on a mule while Ebn Hanbal follows on foot; attending
the mule is said to be profitable
associated_figures:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:5
label: night divided into three parts
literal_form: The night divided into study, prayer, and sleep
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
- id: sym:6
label: sleep and waking of tradition relators
literal_form: Relators of Mohammed's traditions described as asleep until al Shafei
woke them
associated_figures:
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Malec weeps in his last illness
summary: A friend visits Malec in his last illness, finds him in tears, and hears
him lament decisions made by his own opinion.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:2
label: Malec confesses ignorance
summary: Al Ghazli recounts Malec answering that he did not know in thirty-two of
forty-eight questions, treating this as evidence of orientation toward God's glory.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: scene:3
label: Ebn Hanbal follows al Shafei
summary: Ebn Hanbal, despite earlier forbidding his students to approach al Shafei,
follows al Shafei on foot while al Shafei rides a mule and says attending the
mule would profit a student.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:4
label: Al Shafei as awakener of jurisprudence
summary: Al Shafei is credited with methodizing jurisprudence, and a saying describes
tradition-relators as asleep until he woke them.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: scene:5
label: Al Shafei's discipline and restraint
summary: Al Shafei divides the night among study, prayer, and sleep, avoids swearing
by God, pauses before answering, and warns against claiming to love both the world
and its Creator.
figure_refs:
- fig:4
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: wisdom through confessed ignorance and restrained speech
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Malec repeatedly admits not knowing, and al Shafei pauses to decide whether
speaking or silence is better.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: The passage is biographical and didactic rather than a mythic narrative.
- id: motif:2
label: accountability for one's judgments before God
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Malec weeps over decisions given by his own opinion and says stripes would
make his accounts easier.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage implies religious accountability but does not narrate an explicit
judgment scene.
- id: motif:3
label: teacher as awakener of tradition
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: Al Shafei is credited with methodizing jurisprudence, and a saying represents
tradition-relators as asleep until he woke them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The sleep-and-waking image is a reported witty saying, not an enacted
episode.
- id: motif:4
label: renunciation of divided love between world and Creator
taxonomy_refs:
- wisdom
basis: A saying attributed to al Shafei declares it false to claim love for both
the world and its Creator at the same time.
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
confidence: medium
cautions: No available taxonomy reference precisely covers ascetic renunciation,
so the broader wisdom family is used.
comparison_claims: []
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 7320-7324
quote_or_summary: Malec Ebn Ans is introduced as the second orthodox sect's figure,
born and dying at Medina, and as showing great regard for Mohammed's traditions.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:2
type: quote
locator: 7324-7331
quote_or_summary: 'In his last illness Malec is found in tears and says: "Would
to GOD that for every question decided by me according to my own opinion, I had
received so many stripes! then would my accounts be easier."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 7331-7336
quote_or_summary: Al Ghazli says Malec answered that he did not know to thirty-two
of forty-eight questions, showing frank confession of ignorance for God's glory.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 7336-7338
quote_or_summary: Malec's doctrine is described as chiefly followed in Barbary and
other parts of Africa.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 7338-7344
quote_or_summary: Mohammed Ebn Edris al Shafei is introduced as author of the third
orthodox sect, born in Palestine, educated at Mecca, and dying in Egypt.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 7344-7352
quote_or_summary: Ebn Hanbal praises al Shafei as sun to the world and health to
the body; after earlier forbidding students to approach him, he follows al Shafei's
mule and says attending it would profit a student.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:7
type: summary
locator: 7352-7356
quote_or_summary: Al Shafei is credited with first discoursing of jurisprudence
and reducing it into method; a saying says tradition-relators were asleep until
he woke them.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:8
type: summary
locator: 7357-7367
quote_or_summary: Al Shafei divides the night into study, prayer, and sleep; avoids
swearing by God; pauses before giving an opinion; and says one cannot love the
world and its Creator at the same time.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
- id: ev:9
type: summary
locator: 7367-7371
quote_or_summary: The followers of al Shafei are called Shafeites and are described
as formerly spread eastward but now chiefly of Arabia and Persia.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: public_domain
confidence:
extraction: high
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: uncertain
notes: The passage is historical-biographical commentary in English translation
metadata rather than a mythic episode; motifs are therefore extracted as didactic
symbolic patterns with caution.
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 comparison claims were added because the passage itself does not support a comparison to another text, tradition, or motif family beyond available taxonomy tagging.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l7320-l7371
passage_sha256=447494d2f4ab7fe8f65342d10cfb3a36def77b1fb389dc49390c8686536b573a