Prophet Sulaiman alaihissalam had a huge army that consisted of men, jinns as well as birds and animals in his troop. He use to follow strict discipline among them and He would assess the army regularly while at work.
One day while they were on some mission, Prophet Sulaiman alaihissalam was inspecting his troops and found that the bird Hud-Hud was missing from the army/assembly.
This incident is mentioned in the Quran as:
And He(Prophet Sualiaman alaihissalam) reviewed the birds, then said: How is it I see not the hoopoe(Hud-Hud) or is it that he is of the absentees? I will most certainly punish him with severe punishment or kill him, or he shall bring to me a clear plea. (Quran 27:20-21).
After a while, the bird Hud-HUd came back to the army of Solaiman alaihissalam and said “I comprehend that which you do not comprehend and I have brought to you a sure information from (Saba)Sheba.” (Quran27:22)
The Hud-HUd further informed Sulaiman alaihissalam that an intelligent and powerful woman named Bilkis rules the kingdom. The Hud-HUd also said that She has everything in abundance including the throne and that the people of Saba(Sheba) worshipped the sun instead of ALLAH SWT.
Surely I found a woman ruling over them, and she has been given the abundance and she has a mighty throne (Quran 27:23)
I found her and her people adoring the sun instead of Allah, and the Shaitan has made their deeds fair-seeming to them and thus turned them from the way, so they do not go aright (Quran 27:24)
Prophet Solaiman alaihissalam listened to what Hud-Hud said and decided to write a letter to the queen of Saba to check if the Hud-Hud is correct and inviting them to the oneness of ALLAH SWT He said: We will see whether you have told the truth or whether you are of the liars (Quran 27:27)
Solaiman alaihissalam gave instructions to Hud-Hud to drop the letter and hide to watch her reaction.
Take this letter and hand it over to them, then turn away from them and see what (answer) they return(Quran 27:28)
The obedient Hud-Hud followed His instructions and flew back to give the letter to the Queen of Saba (Sheba).
She opened the letter and started reading it: Verily! It is from Solomon, and verily! It reads: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, and Most Merciful; be you not exalted against me but come to me as Muslims (true believers who submit with full submission) (Quran 27:30-31).
She got disturbed and confused and summoned all her ministers and advisors asking suggestions from them. She said
O chiefs! Give me advice respecting my affair: I never decide an affair until you are in my presence (27:32).
To this, her ministers replied that you are the most powerful among us and we will always be obedient to you and accept whatever you decide.
They said: We are possessors of strength and possessors of mighty prowess, and the command is yours, therefore see what you will command (Quran 27:33)
Bilqis, the Queen of Saba being an intelligent woman decided to send valuable presents from her most precious treasure to Prophet Sulaiman alaihissalam thinking this would any war and rage.
She said: “Surely the kings, when they enter a town, ruin it and make the noblest of its people to below, and thus they (always) do”(Quran 27:34)
“And surely I am going to send a present to them and shall wait to see what (answer) do the messengers bring back” (Quran 27:35)
Slaiman alaihissalam, upon receiving her gifts rejected them immediately and said these gifts are nothing in front of all the gifts that ALLAH SWT has bestowed him with.
“So when he came to Sulaiman, he said: What! Will you help me with wealth? But what Allah has given me is better than what He has given you. Nay, you are exultant because of your present” (Quran 27:36)
Sulaiman alaihissalam sent the courtiers back with the gifts and a message for the Queen Bilqis to submit to ALLAH SWT or He would come with his army and destroy the Saba.
The queen’s courtiers went back to her with the gift and conveyed the message of Sulaiman alaihissalam. She then decided to visit the palace of Sulaiman alaihissalam.
Sulaiman alaihissalam when heard about her arrival asked who among his army could bring him the throne of the queen before she reaches. All the jinns started competing with each other each saying he would bring the throne before Sulaiman alaihissalam leaves his seat. Sulaiman alaihissalam was waiting for a faster means, then suddenly a man who had the knowledge of the book said he could bring it and it was there in a blink of an eye.
Sulaiman alaihissalam thanked and praised ALLAH SWT when the throne was placed before Him.
When Queen Bilqis arrived at the palace of Sulaiman alaihissalam, She was asked if this was her throne, and she replied that it looks similar to her throne.
Then Sulaiman alaihissalam asked the queen to enter the palace hall, the floor of which was a shimmering glass made. She pulled up her dress thinking it was water. Sulaiman alaihissalam then informed her that the floor is made up of glass.
Queen Bilqis then accepted the oneness of ALLAH SWT.
She said: “My Lord! Verily, I have wronged myself, and I submit (in Islam), together with Solomon, to Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinns, and all that exists” (Quran 27:20-44)