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 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." 18 He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. 19 She said, "How can I have a son when no man has touched me; and neither have I been unchaste?" 20 He said, "This is true but your Lord says, "It is very easy for Me. We have decided to give you a son as evidence (of Our existence) for human beings and a mercy from Us. This is a decree already ordained." 21 ۞ Then she conceived him, and she retired with him to a place far-off. 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 He called from below to her: 'Do not sorrow, look, your Lord has provided a rivulet below you, 24 Shake the trunk of the date-palm tree, and it will drop ripe dates for you. 25 Eat, drink, and rejoice. Should you see a person going by, tell him that on this day you have promised the Beneficent God to fast and never talk to any human being." 26 She came to her nation, carrying him; and they said: 'O Mary, you have committed a monstrous thing. 27 "O sister (i.e. the like) of Harun (Aaron) [not the brother of Musa (Moses), but he was another pious man at the time of Maryam (Mary)]! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman." 28 So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" 29 [But] he said: "Behold, I am a servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto me revelation and made me a prophet, 30 “And He has made me blessed wherever I be; and ordained upon me prayer and charity, as long as I live.” 31 And (hath made me) dutiful toward her who bore me, and hath not made me arrogant, unblest. 32 Peace on me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! 33 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 34 It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. 35 ['Iesa (Jesus) said]: "And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path. (Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism which He did ordain for all of His Prophets)." [Tafsir At-Tabari] 36 Then the sects differed [i.e. the Christians about 'Iesa (Jesus)], so woe unto the disbelievers [those who gave false witness by saying that 'Iesa (Jesus) is the son of Allah] from the meeting of a great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire). 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 thou them of the Day of Sighing when the affair shall have been decreed while yet they are in negligence and are not believing. 39 Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned, 40