(On the other hand), We granted knowledge to David and Solomon and they said: "All praise be to Allah Who has exalted us above many of His believing servants!" 15 And [in this insight] Solomon was [truly] David's heir; and he would say: "O you people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given [in abundance] of all [good] things: this, behold, is indeed a manifest favour [from God]!" 16 Hosts of jinn and humans and birds were marshalled for Solomon and were kept under full control. 17 At length, when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants, one of the ants said: "O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it." 18 (Solomon) smiled, amused at her speech, and said: "O Lord grant me that I should be grateful for the favours You have bestowed on me and my parents, and do good things of Your pleasing; and admit me among Your righteous devotees by Your grace." 19 When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent? 20 I shall surely punish him severely or order him to be executed, unless he gives me a good reason for his absence." 21 But the hoopoe stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news. 22 I found a woman ruling over them, who has been given everything and she has a mighty throne. 23 I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided, 24 Do they not prostrate themselves to Allah who brings forth all that is concealed in the heavens and earth and He knows what they hide and what they reveal? 25 God: There is no god but He, the Lord of the glorious throne." ۩ 26 ۞ [Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars. 27 “Go with this letter of mine and drop it upon them – then move aside from them and see what they answer in return.” 28 (The Queen of Sheba) said to her officials, "A gracious letter has been dropped before me. 29 "It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): 'In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful: 30 do not exalt yourselves above me, but come to me in all submission." 31