And We indeed bestowed great knowledge to Dawud and Sulaiman; and they both said, “All praise is to Allah, Who bestowed us superiority over many of His believing bondmen.” 15 And Sulaiman became Dawud’s heir; and he said, “O people, we have indeed been taught the language of birds, and have been given from all things; this surely is a manifest favour.” 16 And assembled together for Sulaiman were his armies of jinns and men, and of birds – so they had to be restricted. 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 (Solomon) inspected the birds and said, "How is it that I cannot see the hoopoe. Is he absent? 20 I shall certainly punish him severely or slaughter him unless he has a good reason for his absence." 21 But he was not long in coming, and he said: I have found out (a thing) that thou apprehendest not, and I come unto thee from Sheba with sure tidings. 22 Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great 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 "(Kept them away from the Path), that they should not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what ye hide and what ye reveal. 25 "Allah!- there is no god but He!- Lord of the Throne Supreme!" ۩ 26 ۞ Said he, 'Now We will see whether thou hast spoken truly, or whether thou art amongst those that lie. 27 Go with this my letter and convey it to them; and thereafter withdraw from them and see what [answer] they return." 28 She (the Queen of Sheba) said: 'O Council, look, an honorable letter has been dropped to me. 29 Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, 30 Exalt not yourselves against me, but come unto me as those who surrender. 31