وَتَفَقَّدَ

ٱلطَّيۡرَ

فَقَالَ

مَا

لِيَ

لَآ

أَرَى

ٱلۡهُدۡهُدَ

أَمۡ

كَانَ

مِنَ

ٱلۡغَآئِبِينَ

٢٠

˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?

I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.”

It was not long before the bird came and said, “I have found out something you do not know. I have just come to you from Sheba with sure news.