قالَت يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ إِنّي أُلقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتابٌ كَريمٌ

She said, “O council, I have been delivered a noble letter.

إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيمانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمـٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

It is from Solomon, and it is ‘In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.’

أَلّا تَعلوا عَلَيَّ وَأتوني مُسلِمينَ

‘Don’t exalt yourselves above me, but come to me in submission.’”

قالَت يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ أَفتوني في أَمري ما كُنتُ قاطِعَةً أَمرًا حَتّىٰ تَشهَدونِ

She continued, “O my counselors, advise me in this matter. I don’t make a decision without your counsel.”

قالوا نَحنُ أُولو قُوَّةٍ وَأُولو بَأسٍ شَديدٍ وَالأَمرُ إِلَيكِ فَانظُري ماذا تَأمُرينَ

They responded, “We possess power and great military might, but the command is yours to decide. Consider what you will command.”

وَإِنّي مُرسِلَةٌ إِلَيهِم بِهَدِيَّةٍ فَناظِرَةٌ بِمَ يَرجِعُ المُرسَلونَ

I will send them a gift and await what the messengers will return.”

فَلَمّا جاءَ سُلَيمانَ قالَ أَتُمِدّونَنِ بِمالٍ فَما آتانِيَ اللَّهُ خَيرٌ مِمّا آتاكُم بَل أَنتُم بِهَدِيَّتِكُم تَفرَحونَ

Upon receiving it, Solomon said, “Are you offering me money? What God gave me is far better than what He gave you. It is you who rejoice in your gift.

ارجِع إِلَيهِم فَلَنَأتِيَنَّهُم بِجُنودٍ لا قِبَلَ لَهُم بِها وَلَنُخرِجَنَّهُم مِنها أَذِلَّةً وَهُم صاغِرونَ

Return to them; we will come at them with forces they can’t resist, and we will expel them from there, humiliated and belittled.”

قالَ يا أَيُّهَا المَلَأُ أَيُّكُم يَأتيني بِعَرشِها قَبلَ أَن يَأتوني مُسلِمينَ

He asked, “O nobles, who among you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?”

قالَ عِفريتٌ مِنَ الجِنِّ أَنا آتيكَ بِهِ قَبلَ أَن تَقومَ مِن مَقامِكَ ۖ وَإِنّي عَلَيهِ لَقَوِيٌّ أَمينٌ

A powerful jinn responded, “I can bring it to you before you rise from your place. I am strong and trustworthy enough to do it.”