She said, ‘Counsellors, give me your counsel in the matter I now face: I only ever decide on matters in your presence.’

They replied, ‘We possess great force and power in war, but you are in command, so consider what orders to give us.’

She said, ‘Whenever kings go into a city, they ruin it and humiliate its leaders- that is what they do-

but I am going to send them a gift, then see what answer my envoys bring back.’

When her envoy came to Solomon, Solomon said, ‘What! Are you offering me wealth? What God has given me is better than what He has given you, though you rejoice in this gift of yours.

Go back to your people: we shall certainly come upon them with irresistible forces, and drive them, disgraced and humbled, from their land.’

Then he said, ‘Counsellors, which of you can bring me her throne before they come to me in submission?’

A powerful and crafty jinn replied, ‘I will bring it to you before you can even rise from your place. I am strong and trustworthy enough,’

but one of them who had some knowledge of the Scripture said, ‘I will bring it to you in the twinkling of an eye.’ When Solomon saw it set before him, he said, ‘This is a favour from my Lord, to test whether I am grateful or not: if anyone is grateful, it is for his own good, if anyone is ungrateful, then my Lord is self-sufficient and most generous.’

When she arrived, she was asked, ‘Is this your throne?’ She replied, ‘It looks like it.’ [Solomon said], ‘We were given knowledge before her, and we devoted ourselves to God;

she was prevented by what she worshipped instead of God, for she came from a disbelieving people.’

Then it was said to her, ‘Enter the hall,’ but when she saw it, she thought it was a deep pool of water, and bared her legs. Solomon explained, ‘It is just a hall paved with glass,’ and she said, ‘My Lord, I have wronged myself: I devote myself, with Solomon, to God, the Lord of the Worlds.’

To the people of Thamud We sent their brother, Salih, saying, ‘Worship God alone,’ but they split into two rival factions.

Salih said, ‘My people, why do you rush to bring [forward] what is bad rather than good? Why do you not ask forgiveness of God, so that you may be given mercy?’

They said, ‘We see you and your fol-lowers as an evil omen.’ He replied, ‘God will decide on any omen you may see: you people are being put to the test.’

There were nine men in the city who spread corruption in the land without making amends.

They said, ‘Swear by God: we shall attack this man and his household in the night, then say to his next of kin, “We did not witness the destruction of his household. We are telling the truth.”’

So they devised their evil plan, but We too made a plan of which they were unaware.

See how their scheming ended: We destroyed them utterly, along with all their people.

As a result of their evil deeds, their homes are desolate ruins- there truly is a sign in this for those who know-

but We saved those who believed and were mindful of God.

We also sent Lot to his people. He said to them, ‘How can you commit this outrage with your eyes wide open?

How can you lust after men instead of women? What fools you are!’

The only answer his people gave was to say, ‘Expel Lot’s followers from your town! These men mean to stay chaste!’

We saved him and his family- except for his wife: We made her stay behind-

and We brought rain down on them. How dreadful that rain was for those who had been warned!