Solomon, one day reviewing his varied troops, missed among the birds the hoopoe, and asked whither this bird had gone, threatening all manner of punishments for his absence.  Soon the missing bird came flying to the king, uttering the words, “I have just come from Sheba, where I have looked upon the most wonderful queen, sitting upon the most magnificent throne that I have ever set eyes on.  But this queen and her subjects, unfortunately, worshipped not Allah, the true God, but the sun.”

“I will test the truth of thy words!” replied the angry monarch.  “Take thou this note of mine to the queen thou laudest so highly, bidding her come to my kingdom to acknowledge my authority.”

Almost in a twinkling the hoopoe was back with the queen’s answer consenting to visit Solomon and his dominions.  Solomon, having received this answer, asked the nobles of his kingdom, “Which of you will bring me at once the Queen of Sheba’s throne, to be here before she arrives?”

“I will!” said one of the wickedest of the jinns.

“And so will I, in a whiff!” answered a jinn that was well acquainted with the Scriptures.

In a very short time the throne was in Solomon’s palace.  “Alter ye it,” said the king, “as much as ye may, to see whether she has any supernatural knowledge to identify it.”

When the queen arrived, she was asked, “What throne is this?”

She replied, “It is mine—­strangely mine.”  After she had witnessed the glory and wisdom of Solomon, she gave up her idols, and became the worshipper of Allah, the true God. (27.)

III.—­THIRD PERIOD (A.D. 619-622)

PUNISHMENT FOR VIOLATING THE SABBATH

Ye know how We tested and proved those wicked people who dwelt in Elath on the Red Sea.  On the Sabbath day We made the fish come right up to them, as if asking to be caught; but not so on other days.  Those who yielded to the temptation, and thus violated the sanctity of the sacred day, We turned into apes as a punishment for their wrong-doing. (7.)

MOUNT SINAI SHAKEN ABOVE THE ISRAELITES

When the Israelites doubted the authority of the Law which We had given them through Moses, Our servant, We caused Mount Sinai to rear itself above them as a covering, so that the people feared it was going to fall upon them.  And We said to them, “Receive ye with reverence that Law which We have given you, and remember what is contained therein, taking heed thereto."[26] (7.)

MEDINAH SURAS

SALVATION FOR OTHERS THAN MUSLIMS

All such as believe in Allah and in the last day, and who do that which is right, whether they are Jews, Christians, Sabeans, or Muslims, shall have their reward from Allah, who will take away from them all fear and grief. (3.)

Muslims Only to be Saved

No one that follows any other religion than Islam will be accepted by God or saved from perishing in the life that is to come. (2.)