." Advise me, O nobles," she said "in this matter. I do not decide any thing until you concur." 32 They said, "We are strong and our prowess in battle is great, but the decision is in your hands, so consider what you will command." 33 She said: "Surely when kings enter a city they destroy it and despoil the honour of its nobility. So will they do (to us). 34 "But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors." 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 Go back to them. We shall soon come with our armies which they will not be able to face. We shall drive them out of (the land) with ignominy, and they will be humbled." 37 And he said: 'O Council, which of you will bring me her throne, before they come to me, Muslims (submissive to Allah)' 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 one of them who had some knowledge of the Book said, "I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye." When Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, "This is by the grace of my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whosoever is grateful, it is for the good of his own self; and whosoever is ungrateful, then surely my Lord is self-sufficient and generous." 40 Solomon said: " Set the throne before her casually, and let us see whether she gets to the Truth or is one of those who are not guided to what is right." 41 So when she arrived, it was said [to her], "Is your throne like this?" She said, "[It is] as though it was it." [Solomon said], "And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allah]. 42 And he diverted her from the worship of others besides Allah: for she was (sprung) of a people that had no faith. 43 It was said to her, 'Enter the pavilion.' But when she saw it, she supposed it was a spreading water, and she bared her legs. He said, 'It is a pavilion smoothed of crystal. She said, 'My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I surrender with Solomon to God, the Lord of all Being.' 44