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 Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour. 16 And his hosts were mustered to Solomon, jinn, men and birds, duly disposed; 17 and when they came to the Valley of the Ants, one ant said, "Ants! Go into your dwellings, in case Solomon and his hosts inadvertently crush you." 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 He reviewed the birds and said: 'Why is it that I do not see the hoopoe here? Or is he among the absent? 20 "I will certainly punish him with a severe penalty, or execute him, unless he bring me a clear reason (for absence)." 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 a woman reigning over them, and she has been favoured with everything; and she has a throne that is magnificent. 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 God: there is no god but He, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.' ۩ 26 ۞ (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied! 27 Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away and see what (answer) they return, 28 The Queen said:" Know my nobles that a gracious letter has been delivered to me. 29 Verily it is from Sulaiman, and verily it is: in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. 30 Saying: exalt not yourselves against me and come to me in submission. 31