And We gave David and Solomon knowledge and they said, 'Praise belongs to God who has preferred us over many of His believing servants.' 15 And Solomon succeeded David and said: "O people, we have been taught the speech of birds and we have been endowed with all kinds of things. Surely this is a conspicuous favour (from Allah)." 16 And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows. 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 So he smiled, wondering at her word, and said: My Lord! grant me that I should be grateful for Thy favor which Thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as Thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by Thy mercy, into Thy servants, the good ones. 19 And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent? 20 Surely, I will punish him with a terrible punishment, or I will slaughter him or he gives me a good reason' 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 Verily I have found a woman ruling over them and she hath been vouchsafed somewhat of everything, and hers is a mighty throne. 23 I found her and her people prostrating before the sun instead of God. Satan has made their deeds attractive to them. He has kept them away from the right path and they have no guidance. 24 so that they prostrate not themselves to God, who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth; and He knows what you conceal and what you publish. 25 God, save whom there is no deity - the Sustainer, in awesome almightiness enthroned!" ۩ 26 ۞ He replied: 'We shall see if what you have said is true or whether you are among those who lie. 27 Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away and see what (answer) they return, 28 (The Queen of Sheba) said to her officials, "A gracious letter has been dropped before me. 29 “Indeed it is from Sulaiman, and it is (begins) with ‘Allah – beginning with the name of – the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.’” 30 Do not rise up against me, but come to me in surrender (Muslims)." 31