Surah An-Naml 27-33

۞ قَالَ سَنَنظُرُ أَصَدَقْتَ أَمْ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ٢٧

Solomon said, “We will see whether you are telling the truth or lying.

ٱذْهَب بِّكِتَـٰبِى هَـٰذَا فَأَلْقِهْ إِلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ فَٱنظُرْ مَاذَا يَرْجِعُونَ ٢٨

Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then stand aside and see how they will respond.”

قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ إِنِّىٓ أُلْقِىَ إِلَىَّ كِتَـٰبٌۭ كَرِيمٌ ٢٩

The Queen ˹later˺ announced, “O chiefs! Indeed, a noble letter has been delivered to me.

إِنَّهُۥ مِن سُلَيْمَـٰنَ وَإِنَّهُۥ بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣٠

It is from Solomon, and it reads: ‘In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

أَلَّا تَعْلُوا۟ عَلَىَّ وَأْتُونِى مُسْلِمِينَ ٣١

Do not be arrogant with me, but come to me, fully submitting ˹to Allah˺.’”

قَالَتْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَؤُا۟ أَفْتُونِى فِىٓ أَمْرِى مَا كُنتُ قَاطِعَةً أَمْرًا حَتَّىٰ تَشْهَدُونِ ٣٢

She said, “O chiefs! Advise me in this matter of mine, for I would never make any decision without you.”

قَالُوا۟ نَحْنُ أُو۟لُوا۟ قُوَّةٍۢ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ بَأْسٍۢ شَدِيدٍۢ وَٱلْأَمْرُ إِلَيْكِ فَٱنظُرِى مَاذَا تَأْمُرِينَ ٣٣

They responded, “We are a people of strength and great ˹military˺ might, but the decision is yours, so decide what you will command.”