Sūra XXVII.: Naml, or the Ants.

Section 2

15. Walaqad atayna dawooda wasulaymana AAilman waqala alhamdu lillahi allathee faddalana AAala katheerin min AAibadihi almu/mineena

15. We gave (in the past)
Knowledge to David and Solomon
And they both said:
"Praise be to God, Who
Has favoured us above many
Of His servants who believe!

16. Wawaritha sulaymanu dawooda waqala ya ayyuha alnnasu AAullimna mantiqa alttayri waooteena min kulli shay-in inna hatha lahuwa alfadlu almubeenu

16. And Solomon was David's heir.
He said: "O ye people!
We have been taught the speech"
Of Birds, and on us
Has been bestowed (a little)
Of all things: this is
Indeed Grace manifest (from God.)"

17. Wahushira lisulaymana junooduhu mina aljinni waal-insi waalttayri fahum yoozaAAoona

17. And before Solomon were marshalled
His hosts,—of Jinns and men
And birds, and they were all
Kept in order and ranks.

18. Hatta itha ataw AAala wadi alnnamli qalat namlatun ya ayyuha alnnamlu odkhuloo masakinakum la yahtimannakum sulaymanu wajunooduhu wahum la yashAAuroona

18. At length, when they came
To a (lowly) valley of ants,
One of the ants said:
"O ye ants, get into
Your habitations, lest Solomon
And his hosts crush you
(Under foot) without knowing it."

19. Fatabassama dahikan min qawliha waqala rabbi awziAAnee an ashkura niAAmataka allatee anAAamta AAalayya waAAala walidayya waan aAAmala salihan tardahu waadkhilnee birahmatika fee AAibadika alssaliheena

19. So he smiled, amused
At her speech; and he said:
"O my Lord! so order me
That I may be grateful
For Thy favours, which Thou
Hast bestowed on me and
On my parents, and that
I may work the righteousness
That will please Thee:
And admit me, by Thy Grace,
To the ranks of Thy
Righteous Servants."

20. Watafaqqada alttayra faqala ma liya la ara alhudhuda am kana mina algha-ibeena

20. And he took a muster
Of the Birds; and he said:
"Why is it I see not
The Hoopoe? Or is he
Among the absentees?"

21. LaoAAaththibannahu AAathaban shadeedan aw laathbahannahu aw laya/tiyannee bisultanin mubeenin

21. "I will certainly punish him
With a severe penalty,
Or execute him, unless he
Bring me a clear reason
(For absence)."

22. Famakatha ghayra baAAeedin faqala ahattu bima lam tuhit bihi waji/tuka min saba-in binaba-in yaqeenin

22. But the Hoopoe tarried not
Far: he (came up and) said:
"I have compassed (territory)
Which thou hast not compassed,
And I have come to thee
From Saba with tidings true.

23. Innee wajadtu imraatan tamlikuhum waootiyat min kulli shay-in walaha AAarshun AAatheemun

23. "I found (there) a woman
Ruling over them and provided
With every requisite; and she
Has a magnificent throne.

24. Wajadtuha waqawmaha yasjudoona lilshshamsi min dooni Allahi wazayyana lahumu alshshaytanu aAAmalahum fasaddahum AAani alssabeeli fahum la yahtadoona

24. "I found her and her people
Worshipping the sun besides God:
Satan has made their deeds
Seem pleasing in their eyes,
And has kept them away
From the Path,—so
They receive no guidance,—

25. Alla yasjudoo lillahi allathee yukhriju alkhabaa fee alssamawati waal-ardi wayaAAlamu ma tukhfoona wama tuAAlinoona

25. "(Kept them away from the Path),
That they should not worship
God, Who brings to light
What is hidden in the heavens
And the earth, and knows
What ye hide and what
Ye reveal.

26. Allahu la ilaha illa huwa rabbu alAAarshi alAAatheemi

26. "God!—there is no god
But He!—Lord of the Throne's
Supreme!"

27. Qala sananthuru asadaqta am kunta mina alkathibeena

27. (Solomon) said: "Soon shall we
See whether thou hast told
The truth or lied!

28. Ithhab bikitabee hatha faalqih ilayhim thumma tawalla AAanhum faonthur matha yarjiAAoona

28. "Go thou, with this letter
Of mine, and deliver it
To them: then draw back
From them, and (wait to) see
What answer they return"...

29. Qalat ya ayyuha almalao innee olqiya ilayya kitabun kareemun

29. (The Queen) said: "Ye chiefs!
Here is—delivered to me—
A letter worthy of respect.

30. Innahu min sulaymana wa-innahu bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi

30. "It is from Solomon, and is
(As follows), 'In the name
Of God, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful:

31. Alla taAAloo AAalayya wa/toonee muslimeena

31. "'Be ye not arrogant
Against me, but come
To me in submission
(To the true Religion).'"

Next: Section 3 (32-44)