AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 So there she screened herself from them; We therefore sent Our Spirit towards her – he appeared before her in the form of a healthy man. (Angel Jibreel – peace be upon him.) 17 She said: Lo! I seek refuge in the Beneficent One from thee, if thou art Allah-fearing. 18 He said: I am only a messenger of thy Lord, that I may bestow on thee a faultless son. 19 She said, “How can I bear a son? No man has ever touched me, nor am I of poor conduct!” 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 ۞ and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off 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 (a voice) called to her from below: "Grieve not; your Lord has made a rivulet gush forth right below you. 24 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards you – ripe fresh dates will fall upon you.” (This was a miracle – the date palm was dry and it was winter season.) 25 So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal. 26 She took him to her people and they said, "Mary, this is indeed an strange 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 Thereupon she pointed towards the child; they said, “How can we speak to an infant who is in the cradle?” 29 "I am a servant of God," he answered. "He has given me a Book and made me a prophet, 30 and made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined 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 be upon me on the day I was born, and on the day I die; and on the day when I shall be raised up alive' 33 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 34 It does not befit Allah to appoint someone as His son – Purity is to Him! When He ordains a matter, He just commands it, “Be” – and it thereupon happens. 35 Surely God is my Lord, and your Lord; So serve you Him. This is a straight path. 36 But the parties have fallen into variance among themselves; then woe to those who disbelieve for the scene of a dreadful day. 37 Much will they listen and much will they see, on the Day when they come to Us, but today the unjust are in open error. 38 But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined: for (behold,) they are negligent and they do not believe! 39 Verily We shall inherit the earth and whosoever is on it, and to Us they will return. 40