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 And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace. 16 His armies of jinns and men and Tair assembled, formed into ranks, (and marched) 17 Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant exclaimed: O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies crush you, unperceiving. 18 But he smiled, laughing at its words, and he said, 'My Lord, dispose me that I may be thankful for Thy blessing wherewith Thou hast blessed me and my father and mother, and that I may do righteousness well-pleasing to Thee; and do Thou admit me, by Thy mercy, amongst Thy righteous servants.' 19 And he sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent? 20 “I will indeed punish him severely or slay him, or he must bring to me some clear evidence.” 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 Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great 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 God, save whom there is no deity - the Sustainer, in awesome almightiness enthroned!" ۩ 26 ۞ [Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars. 27 Take this letter of mine, and cast it unto them, then turn back from them and see what they shall return ' 28 The woman said, “O chieftains, indeed a noble letter has been dropped upon me.” 29 It is from Solomon. It reads, "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, 30 Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].' " 31