(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 out of her people's sight. We sent Our Spirit to her, who stood before her in the shape of a well formed human being. 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 but a messenger from thy Lord that I may bestow on thee a boy pure. 19 'How shall I bear a son' she answered, 'when I am not touched by a human and not unchaste' 20 He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allah). 21 ۞ So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. 22 Then the birth-pangs drave her to the trunk of a palm-tree; she said: would that I had died afore this and become forgotten, lost in oblivion! 23 Thereupon [a voice] called out to her from beneath that [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! Thy Sustainer has provided a rivulet [running] beneath thee; 24 Shake also to thee the palm-trunk, and there shall come tumbling upon thee dates fresh and ripe. 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 And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: O Marium! surely you have done a strange thing. 27 Aaron's sister, your father was not a bad man nor was your mother unchaste". 28 Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? 29 "I am a servant of God," he answered. "He has given me a 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 be dutiful to my mother. He has not made me haughty or rebellious. 32 Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive." 33 SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree. 34 Allah is not one to take to Himself a son. Hallowed be He! whensoever He decreeth an affair he only Saith to it: be, and it becometh. 35 And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him; this is a way straight. 36 (The followers of Jesus) turned themselves into quarrelling sects. The disbelievers shall face a woeful condition on the great Day (of Judgment). 37 How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error. 38 And warn them of the day of intense regret, when the matter shall have been decided; and they are (now) in negligence and they do not believe. 39 Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned. 40