We gave knowledge to David and Solomon. They said: 'Praise be to Allah who has preferred us above many of His believing worshipers' 15 And Solomon was David's heir. And he said: O mankind! Lo! we have been taught the language of birds, and have been given (abundance) of all things. This surely is evident favour. 16 We gathered to Solomon his army of jinn, humans and birds; gathered and dispersed, 17 Until when they came unto the valley of the ants, an ant said: O ants! enter your habitations lest Sulaiman and his hosts crush you while they perceive not. 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 When he reviewed the Tair, he said: "How is it I do not see Hud-hud? Is he absent? 20 I shall certainly punish him severely or slaughter him unless he has a good reason for his absence." 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 Verily I have found a woman ruling over them and she hath been vouchsafed somewhat of everything, and hers is a mighty throne. 23 "I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,- 24 (Satan has done this) so that they will not worship God who brings forth whatever is hidden in the heavens and the earth and knows whatever you conceal or reveal. 25 He is God: there is no deity but He, the Lord of the mighty throne." ۩ 26 ۞ (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we see whether thou hast told the truth or lied! 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 woman said, “O chieftains, indeed a noble letter has been dropped upon me.” 29 Surely it is from Sulaiman, and surely it is in the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful; 30 “That ‘Do not wish eminence above me, and present yourselves humbly to me, with submission.’” 31