لَاُعَذِّبَنَّهٗ عَذَابًا شَدِیْدًا اَوْ لَاۡاَذْبَحَنَّهٗۤ اَوْ لَیَاْتِیَنِّیْ بِسُلْطٰنٍ مُّبِیْنٍ۝۲۱

I will punish him severely, or cut his throat, unless he bring a valid excuse."

فَمَكَثَ غَیْرَ بَعِیْدٍ فَقَالَ اَحَطْتُّ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهٖ وَ جِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَاٍۭ بِنَبَاٍ یَّقِیْنٍ۝۲۲

But he was not long in coming, and reported: "I have been around where you have not been. I come from Saba with positive news.

اِنِّیْ وَجَدْتُّ امْرَاَةً تَمْلِكُهُمْ وَ اُوْتِیَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَیْءٍ وَّ لَهَا عَرْشٌ عَظِیْمٌ۝۲۳

I found a woman reigning over them, and she has been favoured with everything; and she has a throne that is magnificent.

وَجَدْتُّهَا وَ قَوْمَهَا یَسْجُدُوْنَ لِلشَّمْسِ مِنْ دُوْنِ اللّٰهِ وَ زَیَّنَ لَهُمُ الشَّیْطٰنُ اَعْمَالَهُمْ فَصَدَّهُمْ عَنِ السَّبِیْلِ فَهُمْ لَا یَهْتَدُوْنَۙ۝۲۴

I found that she and her people worship the sun in place of God, for Satan has made their deeds look attractive to them and has turned them away from the Path, so they do not find the way

اَلَّا یَسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِیْ یُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ یَعْلَمُ مَا تُخْفُوْنَ وَ مَا تُعْلِنُوْنَ۝۲۵

To worship God who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and is cognisant of what you hide and what you disclose.

اَللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا هُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِیْمِ۩۝۲۶

God: There is no god but He, the Lord of the glorious throne."

قَالَ سَنَنْظُرُ اَصَدَقْتَ اَمْ كُنْتَ مِنَ الْكٰذِبِیْنَ۝۲۷

(Solomon) said: ´We shall see if you speak the truth or you are a liar.

اِذْهَبْ بِّكِتٰبِیْ هٰذَا فَاَلْقِهْ اِلَیْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَانْظُرْ مَا ذَا یَرْجِعُوْنَ۝۲۸

Take this letter from me, and deliver it to them and withdraw, then see what reply they give in return."

قَالَتْ یٰۤاَیُّهَا الْمَلَؤُا اِنِّیْۤ اُلْقِیَ اِلَیَّ كِتٰبٌ كَرِیْمٌ۝۲۹

(The Queen said): "O nobles, a venerable letter has been delivered to me.

اِنَّهٗ مِنْ سُلَیْمٰنَ وَ اِنَّهٗ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِۙ۝۳۰

It is from Solomon, and (says): ´In the name of Allah, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim.