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.”

قالَت إِنَّ المُلوكَ إِذا دَخَلوا قَريَةً أَفسَدوها وَجَعَلوا أَعِزَّةَ أَهلِها أَذِلَّةً ۖ وَكَذٰلِكَ يَفعَلونَ

She said, “When kings enter a city, they ruin it and humiliate its noble citizens. Such is their way.

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 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.”

قالَ الَّذي عِندَهُ عِلمٌ مِنَ الكِتابِ أَنا آتيكَ بِهِ قَبلَ أَن يَرتَدَّ إِلَيكَ طَرفُكَ ۚ فَلَمّا رَآهُ مُستَقِرًّا عِندَهُ قالَ هـٰذا مِن فَضلِ رَبّي لِيَبلُوَني أَأَشكُرُ أَم أَكفُرُ ۖ وَمَن شَكَرَ فَإِنَّما يَشكُرُ لِنَفسِهِ ۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ رَبّي غَنِيٌّ كَريمٌ

The one who had knowledge of the Scripture suggested, “I can bring it to you before you can blink.” When Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, “This is by the grace of my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful. Whoever gives thanks, he gives thanks for his own good. And whoever is ungrateful—my Lord is Free of need and Generous.”

قالَ نَكِّروا لَها عَرشَها نَنظُر أَتَهتَدي أَم تَكونُ مِنَ الَّذينَ لا يَهتَدونَ

He said, “Alter her throne for her; we shall see whether she will be guided or she will be one of those not guided.”

فَلَمّا جاءَت قيلَ أَهـٰكَذا عَرشُكِ ۖ قالَت كَأَنَّهُ هُوَ ۚ وَأوتينَا العِلمَ مِن قَبلِها وَكُنّا مُسلِمينَ

Upon her arrival, she was asked, “Does your throne resemble this one?” She replied, “As if it were the same.” “We were given knowledge beforehand, and we have already submitted.”

وَصَدَّها ما كانَت تَعبُدُ مِن دونِ اللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّها كانَت مِن قَومٍ كافِرينَ

What she was worshiping besides God had prevented her. She was from a disbelieving people.