And certainly We gave knowledge to Dawood and Sulaiman, and they both said: Praise be to Allah, Who has made us to excel many of His believing servants. 15 Solomon became the heir to David. He said, "People, we have been taught the language of the birds and have been granted a share of everything. This indeed is a manifest favor (from God)". 16 And [one day] there were assembled before Solomon his hosts of invisible beings, and of men, and of birds; and then they were led forth in orderly ranks, 17 till, when they came upon a valley [full] of ants, an ant exclaimed: "O you ants! Get into your dwellings, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you without [even] being aware [of you]!" 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 And he surveyed the birds – he therefore said, “What is to me that I do not see the Hudhud (hoopoe), or is he really absent?” 20 “I will indeed punish him severely or slay him, or he must bring to me some clear evidence.” 21 But he tarried not far, and he said: I have encompassed that which thou hast not encompassed, and I come unto thee from Saba with a tidings sure. 22 Verily I have found a woman ruling over them and she hath been vouchsafed somewhat of everything, and hers is a mighty throne. 23 But she and her people prostrate to the sun instead of Allah. And satan has made their deeds seem pleasing to them and barred them from the Path, and therefore they are not guided. 24 That they do not make obeisance to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows what you hide and what you make manifest: 25 Allah - none is worthy of worship save He; He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne. ۩ 26 ۞ Solomon said, "We shall see whether you are truthful or a liar. 27 "Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"... 28 She said: O chief! surely an honorable letter has been delivered to me 29 Verily it is from Sulaiman, and verily it is: in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 30 “That ‘Do not wish eminence above me, and present yourselves humbly to me, with submission.’” 31