AND, INDEED, We granted [true] knowledge unto David and Solomon [as well]; and both were wont to say: All praise is due to God, who has [thus] favoured us above many of His believing servants!" 15 And [in this insight] Solomon was [truly] David's heir; and he would say: "O you people! We have been taught the speech of birds, and have been given [in abundance] of all [good] things: this, behold, is indeed a manifest favour [from God]!" 16 And his hosts were mustered to Solomon, jinn, men and birds, duly disposed; 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 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 surveyed the birds – he therefore said, “What is to me that I do not see the Hudhud (hoopoe), or is he really absent?” 20 Surely I shall torment him with a severe torment, or I shall slaughter him, unless he bringeth unto me a warranty manifest. 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 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 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 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 Allah; there is no Allah save Him, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. ۩ 26 ۞ Said Sulaiman, “We shall now see whether you spoke the truth or are among the liars.” 27 "Go thou, with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them: then draw back from them, and (wait to) see what answer they return"... 28 She said: O chief! surely an honorable letter has been delivered to me 29 It is from Solomon. It reads, "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, 30 Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender. 31