AL-NAML  -27

 

27:15-44

And We bestowed upon David and Solomon knowledge, and they both said:

“Praise be to God who preferred us over many of His believing servants.”

 

And Solomon inherited from David, and he said:

“O people, we have been taught how to understand the speech of the creatures that fly, and we have been given from everything. This is indeed an evident grace.”

 

And the soldiers of Solomon were gathered, comprising of mankind and Jinn and birds, for they were to be spread out.

Until they came to a valley of ants, 

a female ant said:

“O ants, enter your homes else you will be crushed by Solomon and his soldiers while they do not notice.”

 

He then smiled, amused by what she said.

And he said:

“My Lord, help me to be thankful for the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and that I may do good works that please You, and admit me by Your mercy with Your righteous servants.”

 

And he inspected the birds, 

then said:

“Why do I not see the hoopoe, or is he among those absent?”

“I will punish him severely, or I will kill him, else he should have a clear excuse.”

 

But the hoopoe did not stay away long, then he said:

“I have seen what you do not know, and I have come to you from Sheba with news which is certain. I found them ruled by a woman, and she was given all possessions, and she had a great throne. And I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of God! And the devil had made their works appear good to them, so he kept them away from the path, for they are not being guided. Will they not prostrate to God who brings out what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and He knows what you hide and what you declare? God, there is no god except He, the Lord of the supreme Throne.”

 

He said:

“We will see if you are being truthful or are one of those who lie. Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then withdraw from them and observe what they respond with.”

 

She said:

“O commanders, a noble letter has been delivered to me.”

"It is from Solomon, and it reads:

‘In the name of God, the Almighty, the Merciful’”

“‘Do not be arrogant towards me and come to me as submitters’”

 

She said:

“O commanders, advise me in this matter of mine, for I will not take a decision until you give testimony.”

 

They said:

“We are a people of strength and mighty in power. But the decision is yours, so see what you will command.”

 

She said:

“When the kings enter a town they destroy it and make its most noble people humiliated. It is such that they do.”

“And I will send to them a gift, then I will see with what the messengers will return.”

 

So when they came to Solomon he said:

“Are you providing me with wealth? What God has provided for me is far better than what He has given you. Now you are happy with your gift!”

“Go back to them. For we shall come to them with soldiers the like of which they have never seen, and we will drive them out humiliated, while they are feeble.”

 

He said:

“O commanders, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

 

A powerful being from among the Jinn said:

“I will bring it to you before you rise from your station. For I am strong and trustworthy.”

 

And one who had knowledge from the Book said:

“I will bring it to you before you blink.”

 

So when he saw it resting before him, he said:

“This is from the grace of my Lord, so that He tests me whether I am thankful or whether I reject. As for he who is thankful, he is thankful for himself, and as for he who rejects, then my Lord is Rich, Bountiful.”

 

He said:

“Disguise her throne so we may see if she will be guided

or if she will be of those who are not guided.”

 

So when she came, it was said:

“Is your throne like this?”

 

She said:

“It appears to be similar.”

 

“And we were given knowledge before her, and we had submitted.”

 

And she was prevented by that which she served besides God.

She was of the people who were rejecters.

 

It was said to her:

“Enter the palace.”

 

So when she saw it she thought there was a pool, and she uncovered her legs.

 

He said:

“It is a palace paved with crystal.”

 

She said:

“My Lord, I have wronged myself; and I submit with Solomon to God, Lord of the worlds.”

SABA  -34

 

34:10-20

And We granted David blessings from Us:

O mountains, glorify with him, and the birds.

 

And We softened the iron for him. That you may make armor coats that fit perfectly, and work righteousness.

For I am Seer of what you do. And for Solomon the wind was given, traveling one month coming and one month going, and We caused a spring of tar to flow for him. And from among the Jinn are those that worked for him with the permission of his Lord; and any one of them who turns from Our commands,

We shall cause him to taste the retribution of the Fire.

They made for him what he desired of enclosures, and images and pools of deep reservoirs, and heavy pots.

O family of David, work to give thanks. Only a few of My servants are thankful.

 

Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing informed them of his death until a worm kept eating from his staff, so when he fell down, the Jinn realized that if they had known the unseen, they would not have remained in the humiliating retribution. There was for Sheba a sign in their homeland, with two gardens on the right and the left. Eat from the provisions of your Lord, and be thankful to Him. A good land, and a forgiving Lord. But they turned away, so We sent them a destructive flash flood, and We substituted their two gardens with two gardens of rotten fruits, thorny plants, and a skimpy harvest. We thus requited them for what they rejected.

And We do not requite except the rejecter.

And We placed between them and between the towns that We blessed, towns that were easy to see; 

and We measured the journey between them:

Travel in them by night and day in complete security.

 

But they said:

Our Lord, make the measure between our journeys longer,

 

and they wronged themselves.

So We made them narrations and We tore them into pieces. In this are signs for every person who is patient, thankful.

And Satan has been successful in his suggestions to them, for they followed him, except for a group of the believers.