batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l8515-l8561
---
record_id: batch.motif.islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg-l8515-l8561
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 8515-8561
start: '8515'
end: '8561'
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 recounts reports about Mahmd Ebn Faraj claiming to be Moses
resuscitated, and about the origins and doctrines attributed to the Karmatians,
including a sanctity-claiming founder, his imprisonment and escape, his followers'
interpretation of the escape as divine assumption, changes to ritual law, allegorical
interpretations, and a quoted claim that Christ appeared to Al Faraj Ebn Othmn.
language: English
quote_policy: summarized
literal_observations:
- id: obs:1
text: Mahmd Ebn Faraj claimed to be Moses resuscitated and gained believers before
being condemned and killed; his disciples were imprisoned.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: obs:2
text: A figure called Karmata was said to have come from Khzistn to villages near
Cfa, claimed sanctity, prescribed fifty prayers a day, and invited obedience to
an Imam of Mohammed's family.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:3
text: Karmata selected twelve followers described as apostles to govern the rest
and propagate his doctrines.
category: relationship
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: obs:4
text: The provincial governor imprisoned Karmata because men neglected work and
husbandry to perform the fifty daily prayers.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:5
text: A girl belonging to the governor secretly took the dungeon key while the governor
slept, released the prisoner at night, and returned the key.
category: action
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: obs:6
text: After Karmata's escape became known, his adherents said that God had taken
him into heaven.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: obs:7
text: Karmata later appeared elsewhere, claimed no one could hurt him, then withdrew
into Syria and was not heard of again.
category: sequence
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: obs:8
text: The sect continued, claiming their master was a true prophet who left a new
law altering Muslim prayer, fasting, wine rules, and other Qur'anic commands.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:9
text: The sect interpreted Qur'anic precepts allegorically, including prayer as
obedience to their Imam and fasting as concealment of their dogmas from strangers.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: obs:10
text: A book attributed to Al Faraj Ebn Othmn says Christ appeared to him in human
form and assigned him several identities or titles.
category: speech
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
figures:
- id: fig:1
name_or_label: Mahmd Ebn Faraj
description: A person reported to have pretended to be Moses resuscitated.
role_refs:
- role:1
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:2
name_or_label: Moses
description: The biblical/Qur'anic figure whose resuscitated identity Mahmd Ebn
Faraj claimed.
role_refs:
- role:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:3
name_or_label: followers of Mahmd Ebn Faraj
description: People who believed Mahmd Ebn Faraj and later struck him under the
Khalif's sentence; they were imprisoned afterward.
role_refs:
- role:3
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:4
name_or_label: Khalif al Motawakkel
description: The prince who heard Mahmd Ebn Faraj's discourses and sentenced him.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: fig:5
name_or_label: the Karmatians
description: A sect said to bear malice against Mohammedans and to continue and
increase after their master's disappearance.
role_refs:
- role:5
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: fig:6
name_or_label: Karmata
description: A poor fellow from Khzistn who feigned sanctity, prescribed fifty daily
prayers, gathered a party, was imprisoned, escaped, and later disappeared into
Syria.
role_refs:
- role:1
- role:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- ev:4
- ev:5
- id: fig:7
name_or_label: twelve apostles of Karmata
description: Twelve selected from Karmata's party to govern the rest and propagate
his doctrines.
role_refs:
- role:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: fig:8
name_or_label: provincial governor
description: The governor who seized and imprisoned Karmata and swore he should
die.
role_refs:
- role:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:9
name_or_label: girl belonging to the governor
description: A girl who pitied Karmata and released him from the dungeon by taking
and returning the key.
role_refs:
- role:8
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: fig:10
name_or_label: Al Faraj Ebn Othmn
description: A person of Nasrna to whom a produced book says Christ appeared in
human form.
role_refs:
- role:9
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: fig:11
name_or_label: Christ
description: Said in the produced book to have appeared to Al Faraj Ebn Othmn in
human form and spoken identity statements to him.
role_refs:
- role:10
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
roles:
- id: role:1
label: religious claimant
assigned_to:
- fig:1
- fig:6
basis: Both figures are described as making extraordinary religious claims about
identity, sanctity, divine command, or prophetic authority.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:2
label: claimed revived identity
assigned_to:
- fig:2
basis: Moses is the figure whom Mahmd Ebn Faraj claimed to be after resuscitation.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:3
label: believing followers
assigned_to:
- fig:3
basis: Several people believed Mahmd Ebn Faraj and attended him before the Khalif.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: role:4
label: punishing authority
assigned_to:
- fig:4
- fig:8
basis: Al Motawakkel condemns Mahmd Ebn Faraj; the governor imprisons Karmata and
intends his death.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- ev:3
- id: role:5
label: sectarian community
assigned_to:
- fig:5
basis: The Karmatians are described as a sect that continued, increased, and maintained
distinctive doctrines.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:6
- id: role:6
label: escaped prisoner
assigned_to:
- fig:6
basis: Karmata is put into prison and then released secretly by the girl.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: role:7
label: chosen propagators
assigned_to:
- fig:7
basis: The twelve are selected to govern the rest and propagate Karmata's doctrines.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: role:8
label: secret liberator
assigned_to:
- fig:9
basis: The girl takes the dungeon key at night, releases the prisoner, and returns
the key.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: role:9
label: vision recipient
assigned_to:
- fig:10
basis: The produced book says Christ appeared to Al Faraj Ebn Othmn.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
- id: role:10
label: appearing divine or holy figure
assigned_to:
- fig:11
basis: Christ is said to appear in human form and speak identity statements.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
symbols:
- id: sym:1
label: fifty daily prayers
literal_form: numbered prayer obligation
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- ev:3
- id: sym:2
label: twelve apostles
literal_form: group of twelve chosen followers
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:7
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: sym:3
label: dungeon key
literal_form: key taken from under the sleeping master's head and used to release
the prisoner
associated_figures:
- fig:8
- fig:9
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- id: sym:4
label: heavenly taking
literal_form: claim that God took the escaped figure into heaven
associated_figures:
- fig:6
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
- id: sym:5
label: new law
literal_form: altered ceremonies, prayer form, fast, wine rule, and dispensations
from Qur'anic commands
associated_figures:
- fig:5
- fig:6
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:6
label: allegorical prayer and fasting
literal_form: prayer as obedience to the Imam; fasting as silence or concealment
of doctrine
associated_figures:
- fig:5
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: sym:7
label: identity titles in Christ appearance
literal_form: invitation, demonstration, camel, beast, John son of Zacharias, and
Holy Ghost
associated_figures:
- fig:10
- fig:11
taxonomy_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
scenes:
- id: scene:1
label: False claim to be Moses resuscitated and punishment
summary: Mahmd Ebn Faraj gains believers by claiming to be Moses resuscitated, is
brought before al Motawakkel, condemned, killed, and his disciples are imprisoned.
figure_refs:
- fig:1
- fig:2
- fig:3
- fig:4
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
- id: scene:2
label: Karmata gathers followers and appoints twelve
summary: Karmata comes from Khzistn, feigns sanctity, claims a divine command to
pray fifty times daily, invites obedience to an Imam, gathers a party, and selects
twelve apostles to govern and spread the doctrines.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
- fig:7
symbol_refs:
- sym:1
- sym:2
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
- id: scene:3
label: Secret prison release and heavenly explanation
summary: The governor imprisons Karmata, but a girl secretly releases him at night
using the dungeon key; after the escape becomes public, adherents claim God took
him into heaven.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
- fig:8
- fig:9
symbol_refs:
- sym:3
- sym:4
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
- ev:4
- id: scene:4
label: Disappearance after renewed claims
summary: Karmata appears elsewhere, claims immunity from harm, then withdraws to
Syria and is no longer heard of.
figure_refs:
- fig:6
symbol_refs: []
evidence_refs:
- ev:5
- id: scene:5
label: Sectarian law and allegorical doctrine
summary: The sect claims its master was a true prophet with a new law and interprets
ritual and moral precepts allegorically in terms of obedience, secrecy, and fidelity
to the chief.
figure_refs:
- fig:5
- fig:6
symbol_refs:
- sym:5
- sym:6
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
- id: scene:6
label: Christ appears in human form to Al Faraj Ebn Othmn
summary: A produced book states that Christ appeared in human form to Al Faraj Ebn
Othmn and addressed him with several identity statements and titles.
figure_refs:
- fig:10
- fig:11
symbol_refs:
- sym:7
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
candidate_motifs:
- id: motif:1
label: Claimed resurrection or revived identity
taxonomy_refs:
- resurrection
basis: Mahmd Ebn Faraj claims to be Moses resuscitated and gains believers.
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage presents the claim as pretended, not as an affirmed resurrection
event.
- id: motif:2
label: Heavenly assumption explanation for disappearance
taxonomy_refs:
- ascent
basis: After the prisoner escapes and disappears, adherents explain the event by
saying God took him into heaven.
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage frames the heavenly ascent as a claim made by adherents after
an ordinary prison escape.
- id: motif:3
label: Secret liberation from imprisonment
taxonomy_refs:
- departure
basis: A sympathetic girl releases the imprisoned religious claimant at night by
stealing and replacing the dungeon key.
evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: low
cautions: The available taxonomy has no exact prison-escape motif; 'departure' is
only a broad fit.
- id: motif:4
label: Chosen twelve as doctrinal propagators
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: Karmata selects twelve apostles to govern followers and propagate doctrine.
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches this numerical apostolic
pattern.
- id: motif:5
label: New law replacing or reinterpreting prior ritual obligations
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The sect claims its master left a new law changing prayer, fasting, wine
rules, and Qur'anic commands, while also treating precepts allegorically.
evidence_refs:
- ev:6
confidence: high
cautions: No supplied taxonomy reference directly matches sectarian legal replacement
or allegorical reinterpretation.
- id: motif:6
label: Appearance of Christ in human form with identity proclamation
taxonomy_refs: []
basis: The produced book says Christ appeared in human form and addressed Al Faraj
Ebn Othmn with multiple titles or identities.
evidence_refs:
- ev:7
confidence: medium
cautions: The passage quotes a sectarian claim but does not explain its ritual or
doctrinal function beyond the quoted formula.
comparison_claims:
- id: claim:1
claim: The report of God taking Karmata into heaven after his escape can be cautiously
grouped with ascent or heavenly-assumption motifs at the level of narrative pattern.
claim_level: same_motif
target: ascent motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:4
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:3
confidence: low
limitations: The same passage supplies a mundane escape mechanism, so the ascent
is presented as adherents' interpretation rather than the narrator's affirmed
event.
- id: claim:2
claim: 'Karmata''s selection of twelve apostles resembles an apostolic-twelve pattern
in function: a chosen group governs followers and propagates doctrine.'
claim_level: same_function
target: apostolic group of twelve
evidence_refs:
- ev:2
counter_evidence_refs: []
confidence: medium
limitations: The passage itself uses the term 'apostles' but does not develop a
broader historical comparison or prove dependence.
- id: claim:3
claim: Mahmd Ebn Faraj's claim to be Moses resuscitated belongs only cautiously
with resurrection motifs because the narrative treats it as a pretension that
attracted followers.
claim_level: same_motif
target: resurrection motif family
evidence_refs:
- ev:1
counter_evidence_refs:
- ev:1
confidence: low
limitations: The passage does not narrate an actual death-and-return event; it reports
a claimant's false or contested identity claim.
evidence:
- id: ev:1
type: summary
locator: 8515-8521
quote_or_summary: Mahmd Ebn Faraj is said to have pretended to be Moses resuscitated,
gained believers, was sentenced by al Motawakkel to blows from his followers and
death, and had his disciples imprisoned.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:2
type: summary
locator: 8522-8534
quote_or_summary: The Karmatians are introduced; a man called Karmata comes from
Khzistn, feigns sanctity, claims God ordered fifty daily prayers, invites obedience
to an Imam, gathers a party, and chooses twelve as apostles.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:3
type: summary
locator: 8534-8542
quote_or_summary: The governor imprisons Karmata because people neglect work for
the prayers; a girl secretly takes the dungeon key from under the sleeping governor's
head, releases the prisoner at night, and returns the key.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:4
type: summary
locator: 8542-8544
quote_or_summary: The next morning Karmata's escape becomes known, causing admiration,
and his adherents say God had taken him into heaven.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:5
type: summary
locator: 8544-8548
quote_or_summary: Karmata later appears in another province, says no one can hurt
him, then loses courage, retires into Syria, and is no longer heard of.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:6
type: summary
locator: 8548-8557
quote_or_summary: The sect claims its master was a true prophet with a new law altering
Muslim ritual, fasting, wine rules, and Qur'anic commands; they interpret prayer,
fasting, and fornication allegorically in relation to obedience, secrecy, and
fidelity to the chief.
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; summarized.
- id: ev:7
type: quote
locator: 8557-8561
quote_or_summary: 'A produced book says Christ appeared in human form and declared:
"Thou art the invitation: thou art the demonstration: thou art the camel: thou
art the beast: thou art John the son of Zacharias: thou art the Holy Ghost."'
source_text_path: texts/public-domain/islamic/project-gutenberg/koran-sale.md
rights_note: Public domain source; short quotation used for precise formula.
confidence:
extraction: medium
motif_candidates: medium
comparison_claims: low
notes: The passage is a later English translation and note-like historical report
of sectarian claims. Motif identification is strongest where the passage explicitly
narrates repeated patterns, but many claims are framed as pretended, sectarian,
or hostile reports.
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. Taxonomy references limited to supplied motif families; no supplied symbol taxonomy items were directly attested.
batch_run_id=motif-extraction-2026-04-28-high-priority
custom_id=motif_extract:islamic-koran-sale-gutenberg__l8515-l8561
passage_sha256=8ea4d749af44a9d2f8564ba7f47f38f8fd9bbe9c134d42b7cf997c166bc019a6