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 We gathered to Solomon his army of jinn, humans and birds; gathered and dispersed, 17 Till, when they reached the Valley of the Ants, an ant exclaimed: O ants! Enter your dwellings lest Solomon and his armies crush you, unperceiving. 18 Thereupon [Solomon] smiled joyously at her words, and said: "O my Sustainer! Inspire me so that I may forever be grateful for those blessings of Thine with which Thou hast graced me and my parents, and that I may do what is right [in a manner] that will please Thee; and include me, by Thy grace, among Thy righteous servants!" 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 Surely, I will punish him with a terrible punishment, or I will slaughter him or he gives me a good reason' 21 Not long after the hoopoe came forward and said, "I have information which you do not have. I have come from the land of Sheba with a true report. 22 Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne. 23 I found her and her people adoring the sun instead of Allah, and the Shaitan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them and thus turned them from the way, so they do not go aright 24 [for they have come to believe] that they ought not to adore God [although it is He] who brings forth all that is hidden in the heavens and on earth, and knows all that you would conceal as well as all that you bring into the open: 25 He is God: there is no deity but He, the Lord of the mighty throne." ۩ 26 ۞ [Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars. 27 Go with this my letter and throw it down unto them; then turn away and see what (answer) they return, 28 She said, 'O Council, see, a letter honourable has been cast unto me. 29 It is from Solomon, and (says): 'In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. 30 “That ‘Do not wish eminence above me, and present yourselves humbly to me, with submission.’” 31