Indeed, We have sent revelation to you ˹O Prophet˺ as We sent revelation to Noah and the prophets after him. We also sent revelation to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and his descendants, ˹as well as˺ Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon. And to David We gave the Psalms.

And We blessed him with Isaac and Jacob. We guided them all as We previously guided Noah and those among his descendants: David, Solomon, Job, Joseph, Moses, and Aaron. This is how We reward the good-doers.

And ˹remember˺ when David and Solomon passed judgment regarding the crops ruined ˹at night˺ by someone’s sheep, and We were witness to their judgments. (78) We guided ˹young˺ Solomon to a fairer settlement, and granted each of them wisdom and knowledge. We subjected the mountains as well as the birds to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with David. It is We Who did ˹it all˺. (79) We taught him the art of making body armour to protect you in battle. Will you then be grateful? (80) And to Solomon We subjected the raging winds, blowing by his command to the land We had showered with blessings. It is We Who know everything. (81) And ˹We subjected˺ some jinn that dived for him, and performed other duties. It is We Who kept them in check. (82)

Indeed, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said ˹in acknowledgment˺, “All praise is for Allah Who has privileged us over many of His faithful servants.” (15) And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.” (16)

And We blessed David with Solomon—what an excellent servant ˹he was˺! Indeed, he ˹constantly˺ turned ˹to Allah˺.

Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were rallied for him, perfectly organized. (17) And when they came across a valley of ants, an ant warned, “O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.” (18) So Solomon smiled in amusement at her words, and prayed, “My Lord! Inspire me to ˹always˺ be thankful for Your favours which You have blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please you. Admit me, by Your mercy, into ˹the company of˺ Your righteous servants.” (19) ˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent? (20) I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.” (21) It was not long before the bird came and said, “I have found out something you do not know. I have just come to you from Sheba with sure news. (22)

Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them, who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne. (23) I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. For Satan has made their deeds appealing to them—hindering them from the ˹Right˺ Way and leaving them unguided— (24) so they do not prostrate to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you ˹all˺ conceal and what you reveal. (25) ˹He is˺ Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.” (26) Solomon said, “We will see whether you are telling the truth or lying. (27) Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then stand aside and see how they will respond.” (28)

The Queen ˹later˺ announced, “O chiefs! Indeed, a noble letter has been delivered to me. (29) It is from Solomon, and it reads: ‘In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. (30) Do not be arrogant with me, but come to me, fully submitting ˹to Allah˺.’” (31) She said, “O chiefs! Advise me in this matter of mine, for I would never make any decision without you.” (32) They responded, “We are a people of strength and great ˹military˺ might, but the decision is yours, so decide what you will command.” (33) She reasoned, “Indeed, when kings invade a land, they ruin it and debase its nobles. They really do so! (34) But I will certainly send him a gift, and see what ˹response˺ my envoys will return with.”  (35)

When the chief-envoy came to him, Solomon said, “Do you offer me wealth? What Allah has granted me is far greater than what He has granted you. No! It is you who rejoice in ˹receiving˺ gifts. (36) Go back to them, for we will certainly mobilize against them forces which they can never resist, and we will drive them out from there in disgrace, fully humbled.”  (37) Solomon asked, “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in ˹full˺ submission?” (38) One mighty jinn responded, “I can bring it to you before you rise from this council of yours. And I am quite strong and trustworthy for this ˹task˺.” (39) But the one who had knowledge of the Scripture said, “I can bring it to you in the blink of an eye.” So when Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, “This is by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. But whoever is ungrateful, surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.” (40) ˹Then˺ Solomon said, “Disguise her throne for her so we may see whether she will recognize ˹it˺ or she will not be able to.” (41) So when she arrived, it was said ˹to her˺, “Is your throne like this?” She replied, “It looks to be the same. We have ˹already˺ received knowledge ˹of Solomon’s prophethood˺ before this ˹miracle˺, and have submitted ˹to Allah˺.” (42) But she had been hindered by what she used to worship instead of Allah, for she was indeed from a disbelieving people. (43) Then she was told, “Enter the palace.” But when she saw the hall, she thought it was a body of water, so she bared her legs. Solomon said. “It is just a palace paved with crystal.” ˹At last˺ she declared, “My Lord! I have certainly wronged my soul. Now I ˹fully˺ submit myself along with Solomon to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.” (44)

They ˹instead˺ followed the magic promoted by the devils during the reign of Solomon. Never did Solomon disbelieve, rather the devils disbelieved. They taught magic to the people, along with what had been revealed to the two angels, Hârût and Mârût, in Babylon. The two angels never taught anyone without saying, “We are only a test ˹for you˺, so do not abandon ˹your˺ faith.” Yet people learned ˹magic˺ that caused a rift ˹even˺ between husband and wife; although their magic could not harm anyone except by Allah’s Will. They learned what harmed them and did not benefit them—although they already knew that whoever buys into magic would have no share in the Hereafter. Miserable indeed was the price for which they sold their souls, if only they knew!

And to Solomon ˹We subjected˺ the wind: its morning stride was a month’s journey and so was its evening stride. And We caused a stream of molten copper to flow for him, and ˹We subjected˺ some of the jinn to work under him by his Lord’s Will. And whoever of them deviated from Our command, We made them taste the torment of the blaze. (12) They made for him whatever he desired of sanctuaries, statues, basins as large as reservoirs, and cooking pots fixed ˹into the ground˺. ˹We ordered:˺ “Work gratefully, O  family of David!” ˹Only˺ a few of My servants are ˹truly˺ grateful. (13) When We decreed Solomon’s death, nothing indicated to the ˹subjected˺ jinn that he was dead except the termites eating away his staff. So when he collapsed, the jinn realized that if they had ˹really˺ known the unseen, they would not have remained in ˹such˺ humiliating servitude. (14)

˹Remember˺ when the well-trained, swift horses were paraded before him in the evening. (31) He then proclaimed, “I am truly in love with ˹these˺ fine things out of remembrance for my Lord,” until they went out of sight. (32) ˹He ordered,˺ “Bring them back to me!” Then he began to rub down their legs and necks.  (33) And indeed, We tested Solomon, placing a ˹deformed˺ body on his throne, then he turned ˹to Allah in repentance˺. (34) He prayed, “My Lord! Forgive me, and grant me an authority that will never be matched by anyone after me. You are indeed the Giver ˹of all bounties˺.” (35) So We subjected to him the wind, blowing gently at his command to wherever he pleased. (36) And ˹We subjected to him˺ every builder and diver of the jinn, (37) and others bound together in chains. (38) ˹Allah said,˺ “This is Our gift, so give or withhold ˹as you wish˺, never to be called to account.” (39) And he will indeed have ˹a status of˺ closeness to Us and an honourable destination! (40)