To the service of Solomon were mobilized his troops of sprites, and men, and birds—all held in strict order.
Until, when they came upon the Valley of Ants, an ant said, “O ants! Go into your nests, lest Solomon and his troops crush you without noticing.”
He smiled and laughed at her words, and said, “My Lord, direct me to be thankful for the blessings you have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to do good works that please You. And admit me, by Your grace, into the company of Your virtuous servants.”
Then he inspected the birds, and said, “Why do I not see the hoopoe? Or is he among the absentees?
I will punish him most severely, or slay him, unless he gives me a valid excuse.”
But he did not stay for long. He said, “I have learnt something you did not know. I have come to you from Sheba, with reliable information.
I found a woman ruling over them, and she was given of everything, and she has a magnificent throne.
I found her and her people worshiping the sun, instead of God. Satan made their conduct appear good to them, and diverted them from the path, so they are not guided.
If only they would worship God, who brings to light the mysteries of the heavens and the earth, and knows what you conceal and what you reveal.
God—There is no god but He, the Lord of the Sublime Throne.”
He said, “We will see, whether you have spoken the truth, or whether you are a liar.
Go with this letter of mine, and deliver it to them; then withdraw from them, and see how they respond.”
She said, “O Counselors, a gracious letter was delivered to me.
It is from Solomon, and it is, ‘In the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Do not defy me, and come to me submissively.’”
She said, “O counselors, advise me in this matter of mine. I never make a decision unless you are present.”
They said, “We are a people of might and great courage, but the decision is yours, so consider what you wish to command.”
She said, “When kings enter a city, they devastate it, and subjugate its dignified people. Thus they always do.
I am sending them a gift, and will see what the envoys bring back.”
When he came to Solomon, he said, “Are you supplying me with money? What God has given me is better than what He has given you. It is you who delight in your gift.
Go back to them. We will come upon them with troops they cannot resist; and we will expel them from there, disgraced and humiliated.”
He said, “O notables, which one of you will bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”
An imp of the sprites said, “I will bring it to you before you rise from your seat. I am strong and reliable enough to do it.”
He who had knowledge from the Book said, “I will bring it to you before your glance returns to you.” And when he saw it settled before him, he said, “This is from the grace of my Lord, to test me, whether I am grateful or ungrateful. He who is grateful, his gratitude is to his own credit; but he who is ungrateful—my Lord is Independent and Generous.”
He said, “Disguise her throne for her, and we shall see whether she will be guided, or remains one of the misguided.”
When she arrived, it was said, “Is your throne like this?” She said, “As if this is it.” “We were given knowledge before her, and we were submissive.”
But she was prevented by what she worshiped besides God; she belonged to a disbelieving people.
It was said to her, “Go inside the palace.” And when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pond, and she bared her legs. He said, “It is a palace paved with glass.” She said, “My Lord, I have done wrong to myself, and I have submitted with Solomon, to God, Lord of the Worlds.”
And for Solomon the wind—its outward journey was one month, and its return journey was one month. And We made a spring of tar flow for him. And there were sprites that worked under him, by the leave of his Lord. But whoever of them swerved from Our command, We make him taste of the punishment of the Inferno.
They made for him whatever he wished: sanctuaries, statues, bowls like pools, and heavy cauldrons. “O House of David, work with appreciation,” but a few of My servants are appreciative.
Then, when We decreed death for him, nothing indicated his death to them except an earthworm eating at his staff. Then, when he fell down, it became clear to the sprites that, had they known the unseen, they would not have remained in the demeaning torment.
