batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l8363-l8410
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l8363-l8410
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 8363-8410
start: '8363'
end: '8410'
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: '"I bear witness that Mohammed is the apostle of GOD, and that Aihala is
a liar;"'
summary: The passage recounts the rise and killing of al Aswad/Aihala, reports a
proclamation denying his prophetic claim, describes a heavenly messenger informing
Mohammed before letters arrive, states a prediction that more impostors would
arise before the day of judgment, and summarizes later claims by Toleiha and Sejj.
language: English
quote_policy: quoted
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Al Aswad increased his power, took Najran, al Tayef, and Yaman, killed Shahr,
and married Shahr's widow.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: After news reached Mohammed, a group including Kais Ebn Abd'al Yaghth, Firz,
and al Aswad's wife entered al Aswad's house by night, and Firz cut off al Aswad's
head.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: While being killed, al Aswad roared like a bull; when guards came, his wife
told them the prophet was only agitated by divine inspiration.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The next morning the conspirators proclaimed that Mohammed was the apostle
of God and that Aihala was a liar.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: Letters were sent to Mohammed, but a messenger from heaven was said to have
reached him first with the news, which he told his companions shortly before his
death.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:6
text: Mohammed is reported to have said that before the day of judgment thirty more
impostors, besides Moseilama and al Aswad, would appear and claim to be prophets.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:7
text: Toleiha Ebn Khowailed set up for a prophet after Mohammed's death, gained
tribal followers, was defeated by Khaled, withdrew to Syria, and later embraced
Mohammedism before Omar.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:8
text: Sejj Bint al Mondar set up for a prophetess, gained followers, went to Moseilama,
married him, stayed three days, and returned home.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: obs:9
text: The passage states that in succeeding ages several impostors arose, with some
founding sects that continued after their deaths.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:8
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: al Aswad / Aihala
description: A claimant associated with a rebellion, called a liar in the proclamation
and included among impostors; he seized territory and was killed by Firz.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Mohammed
description: The apostle of God in the proclamation; he receives news, is informed
by a heavenly messenger, and is reported to predict future impostors.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: Firz the Deilamite
description: A conspirator who surprised al Aswad and cut off his head.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: al Aswad's wife
description: A participant in the conspiracy who dismissed the guards by saying
al Aswad was agitated by divine inspiration.
role_refs:
- role:4
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: Conspirators against al Aswad
description: A party including those of Hamdan, Kais Ebn Abd'al Yaghth, Firz, and
al Aswad's wife who broke into al Aswad's house by night.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: messenger from heaven
description: A heavenly messenger said to have informed Mohammed of al Aswad's death
before letters arrived.
role_refs:
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: Toleiha Ebn Khowailed
description: A man of the tribe of Asad who set up for a prophet, was defeated,
and later embraced Mohammedism.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: Sejj Bint al Mondar
description: A woman of the tribe of Tamim who set up for a prophetess, was followed
by tribes, and married Moseilama briefly.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: Moseilama
description: Named as an impostor in Mohammed's reported statement and as the prophet
whom Sejj married.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:7
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Khaled
description: Sent against Toleiha's followers; he engaged them and put them to flight.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Omar
description: The person before whom Toleiha embraced Mohammedism and took an oath
of fidelity.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
roles:
- id: role:1
label: claimant to prophecy / impostor in narrator's framing
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:7
- fig:8
- fig:9
basis: The passage describes al Aswad, Moseilama, Toleiha, and Sejj in connection
with claims to prophethood, imposture, or pretended inspiration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- id: role:2
label: territorial usurper
assigned_to:
- fig:1
basis: Al Aswad is described as making himself master of Najran, al Tayef, and Yaman.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: recognized apostle and recipient of supernatural news
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: The proclamation calls Mohammed the apostle of God, and the passage says
a messenger from heaven informed him of the news.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:4
label: night conspirator or assassin
assigned_to:
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
basis: The passage describes a conspiracy and a night entry into al Aswad's house,
with Firz cutting off his head.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:5
label: deceiver of guards
assigned_to:
- fig:4
basis: Al Aswad's wife sent the guards away by saying the prophet was agitated by
divine inspiration.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:6
label: heavenly messenger
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: The passage says a messenger from heaven outstripped the letters and informed
Mohammed.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: defeated rebel and later convert
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: Toleiha is defeated, withdraws to Syria, later goes to Omar, embraces Mohammedism,
and takes an oath of fidelity.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:8
label: military opponent
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: Khaled is sent against Toleiha's followers and defeats them.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: role:9
label: recipient of oath of fidelity
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Toleiha takes the oath of fidelity to Omar.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: heavenly messenger
literal_form: messenger from heaven
associated_figures:
- fig:2
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:2
label: day of judgment
literal_form: eschatological time marker named as the day of judgment
associated_figures:
- fig:2
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: sym:3
label: divine inspiration as explanation for disorder
literal_form: wife's statement that the prophet was agitated by divine inspiration
associated_figures:
- fig:1
- fig:4
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: Al Aswad's rise and seizure of Yaman
summary: Al Aswad gains power, takes territories, kills Shahr, and marries Shahr's
widow.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Night killing of al Aswad
summary: Conspirators break into al Aswad's house at night; Firz kills him, and
al Aswad's wife sends away guards by invoking divine inspiration.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:3
- fig:4
- fig:5
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Proclamation and supernatural transmission of news
summary: The conspirators announce that Mohammed is the apostle of God and Aihala
is a liar; letters are sent, but a heavenly messenger informs Mohammed first.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Prediction of future impostors
summary: Mohammed is reported to say that before the day of judgment thirty more
impostors will appear and claim prophecy.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Toleiha's prophetic claim, defeat, and oath
summary: Toleiha sets up for a prophet, draws tribal support, is defeated by Khaled,
retreats, later embraces Mohammedism, and swears fidelity to Omar.
figure_refs:
- fig:7
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Sejj's prophetic claim and brief marriage to Moseilama
summary: Sejj sets up for a prophetess, gathers followers, chooses a prophet as
husband, marries Moseilama, remains three days, and returns home.
figure_refs:
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: false prophet exposed and overthrown
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Al Aswad is framed as a liar and impostor after claiming prophetic status,
and he is killed by conspirators.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:5
confidence: high
cautions: The terminology reflects the narrator's polemical framing; the passage
does not provide al Aswad's own doctrine.
- id: motif:2
label: heavenly messenger reports distant news before human messengers arrive
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage says letters were sent to Mohammed, but a messenger from heaven
arrived first with the news.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: high
cautions: The messenger is not named or described beyond its heavenly origin and
function.
- id: motif:3
label: eschatological proliferation of false prophets
taxonomy_refs:
- divine_judgment
basis: Mohammed is reported to predict that before the day of judgment thirty more
impostors will appear and claim to be prophets.
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
confidence: medium
cautions: The taxonomy reference rests on the explicit phrase 'day of judgment';
the passage does not describe the judgment scene itself.
- id: motif:4
label: rival prophetic claimants recur after the founder's death
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The passage names Toleiha and Sejj as later claimants to prophecy and states
that later ages produced additional impostors and sects.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
confidence: high
cautions: This is a historical-narrative pattern in the passage rather than a developed
mythic episode.
- id: motif:5
label: prophetic marriage alliance
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Sejj, herself described as a prophetess, is said to have considered a prophet
the most proper husband and to have married Moseilama.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the marriage briefly and polemically; no ritual or
theological meaning is provided.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The passage groups al Aswad, Moseilama, Toleiha, Sejj, and later figures
under the same functional pattern of rival claims to prophecy or pretended inspiration.
claim_level: same_function
target: rival prophetic claimants within the passage
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- ev:6
- ev:7
- ev:8
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: high
limitations: This comparison is internal to the passage and depends on the narrator's
label of 'impostor' or 'pretender'; it does not establish historical contact or
doctrinal equivalence among the figures.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: lines 8363-8368
quote_or_summary: Al Aswad increases his power, takes Najran, al Tayef, and Yaman,
kills Shahr, and marries Shahr's widow.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: lines 8368-8375
quote_or_summary: A group including Kais, Firz, and al Aswad's wife enters by night;
Firz cuts off al Aswad's head; al Aswad roars like a bull; his wife dismisses
the guards by attributing the disturbance to divine inspiration.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: quote
locator: lines 8375-8378
quote_or_summary: '"I bear witness that Mohammed is the apostle of GOD, and that
Aihala is a liar;"'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: lines 8378-8383
quote_or_summary: Letters about al Aswad's death are sent to Mohammed, but a messenger
from heaven is said to outstrip them and inform him before the letters arrive.
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 8383-8388
quote_or_summary: Mohammed is reported to say that before the day of judgment thirty
more impostors, besides Moseilama and al Aswad, will appear and claim to be prophets.
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 8389-8398
quote_or_summary: Toleiha Ebn Khowailed sets up for a prophet, gathers support,
is defeated by Khaled, withdraws to Syria, later comes to Omar, embraces Mohammedism,
and takes an oath of fidelity.
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 8399-8407
quote_or_summary: Sejj Bint al Mondar sets up for a prophetess, gains followers,
goes to Moseilama, marries him, stays three days, and returns home.
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 8407-8410
quote_or_summary: In succeeding ages several impostors arose; some became influential
and propagated sects that continued after their deaths.
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 passage is a historical and polemical narrative from Sale's apparatus
rather than a Qur'anic mythic pericope. Literal extraction is strong, while motif
labeling should be reviewed for project taxonomy fit.
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 and metadata. No external identifications or taxonomy IDs beyond the available motif family 'divine_judgment' were added.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l8363-l8410
passage_sha256=7489cee00089a7b9cf66a61b9e2f09d7892686c45f715ae6ef22d83f2a751ecb