And indeed We gave knowledge to Dawud (David) and Sulaiman (Solomon), and they both said: "All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has preferred us above many of His believing slaves!" 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 there were gathered together unto Solomon his armies of the jinn and humankind, and of the birds, and they were set in battle order; 17 When they arrived in the valley of the ants, one ant said to the others, "Enter your dwellings lest you be carelessly crushed by Soloman and his army." 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 He reviewed the birds and said: 'Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe here? Or is he among the absent? 20 I verily will punish him with hard punishment or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse. 21 But he tarried not long, and said, 'I have comprehended that which thou hast not comprehended, and I have come from Sheba to thee with a sure tiding. 22 I found a woman reigning over them, and she has been favoured with everything; and she has a throne that is magnificent. 23 And I found her and her people adoring the sun instead of God; and Satan has made these doings of theirs seem goodly to them, and [thus] has barred them from the path [of God,] so that they cannot find the right way: 24 "(Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal. 25 Allah, there is no god except He, the Lord of the Mighty Throne' ۩ 26 ۞ (Solomon) said: 'We shall see if you speak the truth or you are a liar. 27 Go with this letter of mine and lay it before them, then withdraw from them and see how they respond." 28 (The queen) said: "Ye chiefs! here is delivered to me - a letter worthy of respect. 29 It reads, 'From Soloman. In the Name of God, the Beneficent and the Merciful. 30 "'Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).'" 31