We gave David and Solomon knowledge; and they said: "All praise be to God who has favoured us over many of His creatures who believe." 15 And Sulaiman (Solomon) inherited (the knowledge of) Dawud (David). He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allah)." 16 And there were gathered before Sulaiman (Solomon) his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they all were set in battle order (marching forwards). 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 And he reviewed the birds; then he said, 'How is it with me, that I do not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absent? 20 I will most certainly punish him with a severe punishment, or kill him, or he shall bring to me a clear plea. 21 But he tarried not long, and said, 'I have comprehended that which thou hast not comprehended, and I have come from Sheba to thee with a sure tiding. 22 Surely I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given abundance and she has a mighty throne: 23 I found her and her people worshipping the sun, instead of God. Satan has made their conduct appear good to them, and has thus diverted them from the right path, so that they might not be guided. 24 That they do not make obeisance to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows what you hide and what you make manifest: 25 Allah, there is no god except He, the Lord of the Mighty 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 (The Queen of Sheba) said to her officials, "A gracious letter has been dropped before me. 29 Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; 30 Do not rise against me, but come to me in submission.' 31