Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 16 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent her our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. 17 Mary exclaimed: "I surely take refuge from you with the Most Compassionate Lord, if you are at all God-fearing." 18 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 19 Said she: "How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me? - for, never have I been a loose woman!" 20 [The angel] replied, "So shall it be; your Lord says, 'This is easy for Me; and We shall make him a sign to people and a blessing, from Us. This has been decreed.'" 21 ۞ So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. 22 The birth pangs led her to the trunk of a date-palm tree. "Would that I had died before this," she said, "and become a thing forgotten, unremembered." 23 But a voice called out to her from below, "Do not despair. Your Lord has provided a brook that runs at your feet, 24 Shake the trunk of the date-palm tree, and it will drop ripe dates for you. 25 So eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today. 26 She came to her nation, carrying him; and they said: 'O Mary, you have committed a monstrous thing. 27 O sister of Aaron, your father was never an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste' 28 But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the cradle? 29 He (the baby) said: 'I am the worshiper of Allah. Allah has given me the Book and made me a Prophet. 30 "And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salat (prayer), and Zakat, as long as I live." 31 And duteous unto my mother, and hath not made me high-handed, unblest. 32 Peace be upon me on the day I was born, and on the day I die; and on the day when I shall be raised up alive' 33 Such was (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary. A saying of truth, concerning what they doubt. 34 It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a son, glory to be Him; when He has decreed a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is. 35 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." 36 Then the sects have differed among themselves; so woe to those who disbelieve in the witness of a Day Mighty! 37 How clearly will they (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the Day when they will appear before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) today are in plain error. 38 (O Muhammad), warn those who are steeped in heedlessness and are obstinately rejecting the truth that the Day shall come when things will be finally decided and they shall be left with utter remorse. 39 Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned, 40