Queen Sheba

But he [i.e., the hoopoe] stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.

Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.

I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allāh, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,

[And] so they do not prostrate to Allāh, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare -

Allāh - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."

[Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.

Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."

She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.

Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: 'In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims].'"

She said, "O eminent ones, advise me in my affair. I would not decide a matter until you witness [for] me."¹

They said, "We are men of strength and of great military might, but the command is yours, so see what you will command."

She said, "Indeed kings - when they enter a city, they ruin it and render the honored of its people humbled. And thus do they do.

But indeed, I will send to them a gift and see with what [reply] the messengers will return."

So when they came to Solomon, he said, "Do you provide me with wealth? But what Allāh has given me is better than what He has given you. Rather, it is you who rejoice in your gift.

Return to them, for we will surely come to them with soldiers that they will be powerless to encounter, and we will surely expel them therefrom in humiliation, and they will be debased."

[Solomon] said, "O assembly [of jinn], which of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?"

A powerful one from among the jinn said, "I will bring it to you before you rise from your place, and indeed, I am for this [task] strong and trustworthy."

Said one who had knowledge from the Scripture, "I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you." And when [Solomon] saw it placed before him, he said, "This is from the favor of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful - his gratitude is only for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful - then indeed, my Lord is Free of need and Generous."

He said, "Disguise for her her throne; we will see whether she will be guided [to truth] or will be of those who is not guided."

So when she arrived, it was said [to her], "Is your throne like this?" She said, "[It is] as though it was it." [Solomon said], "And we were given knowledge before her, and we have been Muslims [in submission to Allāh].

And that which she was worshipping other than Allāh had averted her [from submission to Him]. Indeed, she was from a disbelieving people."

She was told, "Enter the palace." But when she saw it, she thought it was a body of water¹ and uncovered her shins [to wade through]. He said, "Indeed, it is a palace [whose floor is] made smooth with glass." She said, "My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, and I submit with Solomon to Allāh, Lord of the worlds."

There was for [the tribe of] Saba’ in their dwelling place a sign: two [fields of] gardens on the right and on the left. [They were told], "Eat from the provisions of your Lord and be grateful to Him. A good land [have you], and a forgiving Lord."

But they turned away [refusing], so We sent upon them the flood of the dam,¹ and We replaced their two [fields of] gardens with gardens of bitter fruit, tamarisks and something of sparse lote trees.

[By] that We repaid them because they disbelieved. And do We [thus] repay except the ungrateful?

And We placed between them and the cities which We had blessed¹ [many] visible cities. And We determined between them the [distances of] journey,² [saying], "Travel between them by night or by day in safety."

But [insolently] they said, "Our Lord, lengthen the distance between our journeys," and wronged themselves, so We made them narrations¹ and dispersed them in total dispersion. Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.

And Iblees had already confirmed through them¹ his assumption,² so they followed him, except for a party of believers.

And he had over them no authority except [it was decreed] that We might make evident who believes in the Hereafter from who is thereof in doubt. And your Lord, over all things, is Guardian.¹