27. Surah An-Naml, English Translation

˹It is˺ a guide and good news for the believers:

˹those˺ who establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and have sure faith in the Hereafter.

As for those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have certainly made their ˹evil˺ deeds appealing to them, so they wander blindly.

It is they who will suffer a dreadful torment, and in the Hereafter they will ˹truly˺ be the greatest losers.

And indeed, you ˹O Prophet˺ are receiving the Quran from the One ˹Who is˺ All-Wise, All-Knowing.

˹Remember˺ when Moses said to his family, “I have spotted a fire. I will either bring you some directions¹ from there, or a burning torch so you may warm yourselves.”

But when he came to it, he was called ˹by Allah˺, “Blessed is the one at the fire, and whoever is around it!¹ Glory be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

O  Moses! It is truly I. I am Allah—the Almighty, All-Wise.

Now, throw down your staff!” But when he saw it slithering like a snake, he ran away without looking back. ˹Allah reassured him,˺ “O Moses! Do not be afraid! Messengers should have no fear in My presence.

˹Fear is˺ only for those who do wrong. But if they later mend ˹their˺ evil ˹ways˺ with good, then I am certainly All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Now put your hand through ˹the opening of˺ your collar, it will come out ˹shining˺ white, unblemished.¹ ˹These are two˺ of nine signs for Pharaoh and his people.² They have truly been a rebellious people.”

But when Our enlightening signs came to them, they said, “This is pure magic.”

And, although their hearts were convinced the signs were true, they still denied them wrongfully and arrogantly. See then what was the end of the corruptors!

Indeed, We granted knowledge to David and Solomon. And they said ˹in acknowledgment˺, “All praise is for Allah Who has privileged us over many of His faithful servants.”¹

And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.”

Solomon’s forces of jinn, humans, and birds were rallied for him, perfectly organized.

And when they came across a valley of ants, an ant warned, “O ants! Go quickly into your homes so Solomon and his armies do not crush you, unknowingly.”

So Solomon smiled in amusement at her words, and prayed, “My Lord! Inspire me to ˹always˺ be thankful for Your favours which You have blessed me and my parents with, and to do good deeds that please you. Admit me, by Your mercy, into ˹the company of˺ Your righteous servants.”

˹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.

Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them,¹ who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne.

I found her and her people prostrating to the sun instead of Allah. For Satan has made their deeds appealing to them—hindering them from the ˹Right˺ Way and leaving them unguided—

so they do not prostrate to Allah, Who brings forth what is hidden in the heavens and the earth, and knows what you ˹all˺ conceal and what you reveal.

˹He is˺ Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

She reasoned, “Indeed, when kings invade a land, they ruin it and debase its nobles. They really do so!

But I will certainly send him a gift, and see what ˹response˺ my envoys will return with.”¹ 

When the chief-envoy came to him, Solomon said, “Do you offer me wealth? What Allah has granted me is far greater than what He has granted you. No! It is you who rejoice in ˹receiving˺ gifts.

Go back to them, for we will certainly mobilize against them forces which they can never resist, and we will drive them out from there in disgrace, fully humbled.”¹ 

Solomon asked, “O chiefs! Which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in ˹full˺ submission?”¹

One mighty jinn responded, “I can bring it to you before you rise from this council of yours. And I am quite strong and trustworthy for this ˹task˺.”

But the one who had knowledge of the Scripture said,¹ “I can bring it to you in the blink of an eye.” So when Solomon saw it placed before him, he exclaimed, “This is by the grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful, it is only for their own good. But whoever is ungrateful, surely my Lord is Self-Sufficient, Most Generous.”

˹Then˺ Solomon said, “Disguise her throne for her so we may see whether she will recognize ˹it˺ or she will not be able to.”

So when she arrived, it was said ˹to her˺, “Is your throne like this?” She replied, “It looks to be the same. We have ˹already˺ received knowledge ˹of Solomon’s prophethood˺¹ before this ˹miracle˺,² and have submitted ˹to Allah˺.”