And We indeed bestowed great knowledge to Dawud and Sulaiman; and they both said, “All praise is to Allah, Who bestowed us superiority over many of His believing bondmen.” 15 Solomon succeeded David. He said, "Know, my people, that we have been taught the speech of birds and endowed with all good things. Surely this is God's manifest grace." 16 We gathered to Solomon his army of jinn, humans and birds; gathered and dispersed, 17 and when they came to the Valley of the Ants, one ant said, "Ants! Go into your dwellings, in case Solomon and his hosts inadvertently crush you." 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 sought among the birds and said: How is it that I see not the hoopoe, or is he among the absent? 20 I verily will punish him with hard punishment or I verily will slay him, or he verily shall bring me a plain excuse. 21 But the hoopoe stayed not long, he (came up and) said: "I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba' (Sheba) with true news. 22 There I found a woman ruling over them. She possess everything and has a great throne. 23 "I found her and her people worshipping the sun instead of Allah, and Shaitan (Satan) has made their deeds fair-seeming to them, and has barred them from (Allah's) Way, so they have no guidance," 24 [And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare - 25 Allah, there is no god except He, the Lord of the Mighty Throne' ۩ 26 ۞ [Sulaiman (Solomon)] said: "We shall see whether you speak the truth or you are (one) of the liars. 27 Take this letter of mine, and cast it unto them, then turn back from them and see what they shall return ' 28 She said: O chiefs! verily there hath been cast unto me an honourable epistle. 29 It is from Solomon, and (says): 'In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. 30 "'Be ye not arrogant against me, but come to me in submission (to the true Religion).'" 31