Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place 16 And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. 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 indeed one sent by your Lord; so that I may give you a chaste son.” 19 She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste? 20 He said, 'Even so thy Lord has said: "Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is a thing decreed."' 21 ۞ She conceived the child and retreated with him to a distant and solitary 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 and if you shake the trunk of this palm-tree, it will drop fresh ripe dates on you. 25 Eat and drink and rejoice. And if you see any human being say, 'I have vowed a fast [of silence] to the Gracious God, and will not speak with any human being 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 O sister of Haroun! your father was not a bad man, nor, was your mother an unchaste woman. 28 Thereupon Mary pointed to the child. They exclaimed: "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle, a mere child?" 29 He said, "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and has appointed me to be a Prophet. 30 And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as 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 be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up alive!' 33 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 34 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is. 35 Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight. 36 Yet different groups differed among themselves. How awful it will be for those who have rejected the truth when a dreadful Day arrives! 37 How well they will hear and see on the day they come to Us! But the evildoers even today are in error manifest. 38 And warn them of the Day of anguish when the case hath been decided. Now they are in a state of carelessness, and they believe not. 39 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 40