AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 We sent to her Our Spirit (Gabriel) in the resemblance of a perfect human. 17 She said, 'I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee! 18 He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son. 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 said: "Thus shall it be. Your Lord says: 'It is easy for Me; and We shall do so in order to make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. This has been decreed.' " 21 ۞ She conceived the child and retreated with him to a distant and solitary place. 22 And the throes (of childbirth) compelled her to betake herself to the trunk of a palm tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died before this, and had been a thing quite forgotten! 23 Then (one) cried unto her from below her, saying: Grieve not! Thy Lord hath placed a rivulet beneath thee, 24 and shake the trunk of this palmtree it will drop fresh ripe dates upon you. 25 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'" 26 Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a thing Fariya (an unheard mighty thing). 27 Sister of Aaron, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a woman unchaste.' 28 Thereupon she pointed towards the child; they said, “How can we speak to an infant who is 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 hath made me blessed wheresoever I may be, and hath enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving so long as I remain alive, 31 He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked. 32 Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! 33 Such is 'lsa, son of Maryam: this is the word of truth wherein they are doubting. 34 It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. 35 And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him; this is a way straight. 36 But different parties began to dispute with one another. A dreadful woe awaits on that great Day for those that reject the Truth. 37 (Muhammad), how clearly they will hear and see on the day when they will be brought into Our presence. Today the wrong doers are in manifest error. 38 Warn thou them of the day of anguish, when the matter shall be determined, and they yet heedless and unbelieving. 39 For We shall inherit the earth and all that are on it. To Us, they shall return. 40