La-u'azzibanahoo 'azaaban shadeedan aw la azbahannahoo aw layaatiyannee bisultaanim mubeen
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."
Famakasa ghaira ba'eedin faqaala ahattu bimaa lam tuhit bihee wa ji'tuka min Sabaim binaba iny-yaqeen
But he [i.e., the hoopoe] stayed not long and said, "I have encompassed [in knowledge] that which you have not encompassed, and I have come to you from Sheba with certain news.
Innee wajattum ra atan tamlikuhum wa ootiyat min kulli shai'inw wa lahaa 'arshun 'azeem
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
Wajattuhaa wa qawmahaa yasjudoona lishshamsi min doonil laahi wa zaiyana lahumush Shaitaanu a'maalahum fasaddahum 'anis sabeeli fahum laa yahtadoon
I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah, and Satan has made their deeds pleasing to them and averted them from [His] way, so they are not guided,
Allaa yasjudoo lillaahil lazee yukhrijul khab'a fis samaawaati wal ardi wa ya'lamu maa tukhfoona wa maa tu'linoon
[And] so they do not prostrate to Allah, who brings forth what is hidden within the heavens and the earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare –
Allaahu laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa Rabbul 'Arshil Azeem
Allah – there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
Qaala sananzuru asadaqta am kunta minal kaazibeen
[Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
Izhab bikitaabee haaza fa alqih ilaihim summma tawalla 'anhum fanzur maazaa yarji'oon
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
Qaalat yaaa aiyuhal mala'u innee ulqiya ilaiya kitaabun kareem
She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
Innahoo min Sulaimaana wa innahoo bismil laahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,