We gave knowledge to David and Solomon. They said: 'Praise be to Allah who has preferred us above many of His believing worshipers' 15 And Sulaiman (Solomon) inherited (the knowledge of) Dawud (David). He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allah)." 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 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 So he smiled, amused at her speech, and said: my Lord! arouse me that I should be thankful for Thy favour wherewith Thou hast favoured me and my parents, and that I should work righteously pleasing Thee, and out of Thy mercy enter me among Thine righteous bondmen. 19 He inspected the birds, and said: "What is the matter that I see not the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees? 20 I shall certainly punish him severely or slaughter him unless he has a good reason for his absence." 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 a woman ruling over them, and she has been given all things that could be possessed by any ruler of the earth, and she has a great throne. 23 I found that she and her people prostrate themselves before the sun rather than Allah. " Satan has made their deeds appear attractive to them and has, thus, debarred them from the Right Path so they do not find true guidance 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 is the only Lord and master of the Great Throne." ۩ 26 ۞ Solomon said, "We shall soon see whether you have spoken the truth, or whether you are a liar. 27 Take this letter of mine, and cast it unto them, then turn back from them and see what they shall return ' 28 She said: O chiefs! verily there hath been cast unto me an honourable epistle. 29 "Verily! It is from Sulaiman (Solomon), and verily! It (reads): In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful; 30 Do not consider yourselves superior to me but come to me as Muslims (in submission)". 31