˹One day˺ he inspected the birds, and wondered, “Why is it that I cannot see the hoopoe? Or could he be absent?
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And he took attendance of the birds and said, "Why do I not see the hoopoe - or is he among the absent?
— Saheeh International
I will surely subject him to a severe punishment, or ˹even˺ slaughter him, unless he brings me a compelling excuse.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
I will surely punish him with a severe punishment or slaughter him unless he brings me clear authorization."1
— Saheeh International
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.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
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.
— Saheeh International
Indeed, I found a woman ruling over them,1 who has been given everything ˹she needs˺, and who has a magnificent throne.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, I found [there] a woman ruling them, and she has been given of all things, and she has a great throne.
— Saheeh International
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—
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
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,
— Saheeh International
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.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
[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 -
— Saheeh International
˹He is˺ Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him, the Lord of the Mighty Throne.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Allah - there is no deity except Him, Lord of the Great Throne."
— Saheeh International
Solomon said, “We will see whether you are telling the truth or lying.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
[Solomon] said, "We will see whether you were truthful or were of the liars.
— Saheeh International
Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then stand aside and see how they will respond.”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Take this letter of mine and deliver it to them. Then leave them and see what [answer] they will return."
— Saheeh International
The Queen ˹later˺ announced, “O chiefs! Indeed, a noble letter has been delivered to me.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
She said, "O eminent ones, indeed, to me has been delivered a noble letter.
— Saheeh International
It is from Solomon, and it reads: ‘In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it is [i.e., reads]: 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
— Saheeh International