And assuredly We vouchsafed unto Daud and Sulaiman a knowledge, and the twain said: praise unto Allah Who hath preferred us above many of His believing bondmen! 15 And Sulaiman was Dawood's heir, and he said: O men! we have been taught the language of birds, and we have been given all things; most surely this is manifest grace. 16 Soloman's army, consisting of human beings, jinn, and birds were gathered together in his presence in ranks. 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 And he sought after the birds and said: what aileth me that I see not the hoopoe; is he among the absentees? 20 I shall certainly punish him severely or slaughter him unless he has a good reason for his absence." 21 And he tarried not long, then said: I comprehend that which you do not comprehend and I have brought to you a sure information from Sheba. 22 I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given of everything, and she possesses a mighty throne. 23 I found her and her people prostrating to the sun, apart from God; Satan has decked out fair their deeds to them and he has barred them from the way, and therefore they are not guided, 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! there is no God but he, the Lord of the Magnificent Throne. ۩ 26 ۞ He replied: 'We shall see if what you have said is true or whether you are among those who lie. 27 Go thou with this epistle of mine, and cast it down unto them, and turn aside from them, and see how they return. 28 [When the Queen had read Solomon's letter,] she said: "O you nobles! A truly distinguished letter has been conveyed unto me. 29 It is from Solomon. It reads, "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, 30 “That ‘Do not wish eminence above me, and present yourselves humbly to me, with submission.’” 31