And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants." 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 And gathered for Solomon were his soldiers of the jinn and men and birds, and they were [marching] in rows. 17 Until when they came to the valley of the Naml, a Namlite said: O Naml! enter your houses, (that) Sulaiman and his hosts may not crush you while they do not know. 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 (Solomon) inspected the birds and said, "How is it that I cannot see the hoopoe. Is he absent? 20 Surely, I will punish him with a terrible punishment, or I will slaughter him or he gives me a good reason' 21 But he tarried not far, and he said: I have encompassed that which thou hast not encompassed, and I come unto thee from Saba with a tidings sure. 22 I found a woman ruling the people there and she possessed something of (almost) everything and a great throne. 23 I have found her and her people adoring the sun instead of Allah, and the Satan hath made their works fairseeming unto them, and hath barred them from the way, so they are not guided. 24 So that they adore not Allah who bringeth forth the hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knoweth that which ye conceal and that which ye make known. 25 Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne." ۩ 26 ۞ He said: We will see whether you have told the truth or whether you are of the liars: 27 Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return." 28 She said, 'O Council, see, a letter honourable has been cast unto me. 29 It is from Solomon, and it is "In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. 30 do not exalt yourselves above me, but come to me in all submission." 31