Now advise me in this, Counsellors. I never decide any affair till I have conferred with you." 32 They said: "We have great strength, and great ability for war, but it is for you to command; so think over what you will command." 33 She said: 'When kings enter a village, they ruin it and humiliate its nobles. And this they will do. 34 but I shall send them a present and see with what reply my envoys will return." 35 Now when [the Queen's messenger] came unto Solomon, he said: "Do you people mean to add to my wealth? But that which God has given me is [so much] better than all that He has given you! Nay, it is [only such as] you that would rejoice in this gift of yours! 36 Return thou to them; we shall assuredly come against them with hosts they have not power to resist, and we shall expel them from there, abased and utterly humbled.' 37 He said, 'O Council, which one of you will bring me her throne, before they come to me in surrender?' 38 An efreet of the jinns said, 'I will bring it to thee, before thou risest from thy place; I have strength for it 39 But he who had knowledge of the Book, said: 'I will bring it to you before your glance comes back to you' And when he saw it set before him, he (Solomon) said: 'This is a favor from my Lord that He might test me whether I am thankful or ungrateful. Whosoever gives thanks gives thanks only for his (own soul's) good, but he who is ungrateful, truly my Lord is Rich and Generous' 40 He said: "Disguise her throne for her that we may see whether she will be guided (to recognise her throne), or she will be one of those not guided." 41 When the Queen arrived, she was asked: "Is your throne like this one?" She said: "It seems as if it is the same. We had already come to know this and we had submitted ourselves." 42 And that which she was wont to worship instead of Allah hindered her; verily she was of an infidel people. 43 She was told: "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a pool of water and she bared both her calves (to enter into it). Solomon said: "This is a slippery floor of crystal." Thereupon she cried out: "My Lord, I have been inflicting much wrong on myself. Now I submit myself with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of the whole Universe." 44