And We indeed bestowed great knowledge to Dawud and Sulaiman; and they both said, “All praise is to Allah, Who bestowed us superiority over many of His believing bondmen.” 15 Solomon was heir to David, and he said: "O people, we have been taught the language of Tair, and have been given of everything. This is a clear favour indeed." 16 Hosts of jinn and humans and birds were marshalled for Solomon and were kept under full control. 17 Till, when they came to the valley of the ants, one of the ants said: "O ants! Enter your dwellings, lest Sulaiman (Solomon) and his hosts crush you, while they perceive not." 18 He smiled, and laughed at its words, and said: 'My Lord, inspire me that I should be thankful for Your blessing with which You have blessed me and my parents, and that I may do good works that will please You. Admit me, by Your Mercy, among Your righteous worshipers' 19 And [one day] he looked in vain for [a particular one of] the birds; and so he said: How is it that I do not see the hoopoe? Or could he be among the absent? 20 I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization." 21 But the hoopoe stayed not long, he (came up and) said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba' (Sheba) with true news. 22 I found there a woman ruling over them, one who has been endowed with all things and has a mighty throne. 23 "I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah, and Shaitan (Satan) has made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and has barred them from (Allah's) Way, so they have no guidance," 24 To worship God who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and is cognisant of what you hide and what you disclose. 25 Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne! ۩ 26 ۞ Said [Solomon]: "We shall see whether thou hast told the truth or art one of the liars! 27 Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then return and see what their reply will be." 28 She said, 'O Council, see, a letter honourable has been cast unto me. 29 Verily it is from Sulaiman, and verily it is: in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 30 "Be you not exalted against me, but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit to Allah with full submission)' " 31