We bestowed knowledge on David and Solomon and they both said, "Praise be to God who has exalted us above many of His believing servants." 15 Solomon succeeded David. He said, "Know, my people, that we have been taught the speech of birds and endowed with all good things. Surely this is God's manifest grace." 16 Hosts of jinn and humans and birds were marshalled for Solomon and were kept under full control. 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 Solomon smiled broadly at its words and said, "Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; and include me, by Your grace, among Your righteous servants!" 19 (Solomon) inspected the birds and said, "How is it that I cannot see the hoopoe. Is he absent? 20 I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization." 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 (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. 23 “I found her and her nation prostrating before the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds seem good to them thereby preventing them from the Straight Path – so they do not attain guidance.” 24 Should they not worship God who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and earth and knows both what you conceal and what you make known? 25 Allah, La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Lord of the Supreme Throne! ۩ 26 ۞ [Sulaiman (Solomon)] said: "We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one) of the liars. 27 Take this my letter and hand it over to them, then turn away from them and see what (answer) they return. 28 She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter. 29 Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; 30 Saying: exalt not yourselves against me and come to me in submission. 31