AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Ruh [angel Jibrael (Gabriel)], and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. 17 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." 18 (The angel) said: "I am only a Messenger from your Lord, (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son." 19 Mary said: "How can a boy be born to me when no man has even touched me, nor have I ever been unchaste?" 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 ۞ Thereupon she carried him, and retired to a far off place. 22 And [when] the throes of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree, she exclaimed: "Oh, would that I had died ere this, and had become a thing forgotten, utterly forgotten!" 23 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; 24 "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you." 25 Therefore eat and drink and rejoice with your eyes. If you meet any human say to him: "I have vowed a fast to the Merciful and will not speak with anyone today.' 26 Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. 27 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. 28 Mary pointed to the child then; but they said, 'How shall we speak to one who is still in the cradle, a little child?' 29 He Said: verily I am a bondman of Allah; He hath vouchsafed me the Book and made me 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 And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed; 32 There was peace on me the day I was born, and will be the day I die, and on the day I will be raised from the dead." 33 Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. 34 It does not behove God to have a son. Too immaculate is He! When He decrees a thing He has only to say: "Be", and it is. 35 (Jesus had said): "Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him alone. This is the Straight Way." 36 Then the sects have differed among themselves; so woe to those who disbelieve in the witness of a Day Mighty! 37 How well shall they hear and how well shall they see on the Day they come to Us! But today the evil-doers are in manifest error. 38 hence, warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Regrets, when everything will have been decided - for as yet they are heedless, and they do not believe [in it]. 39 Surely We inherit the earth and all those who are on it, and to Us they shall be returned. 40