And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. 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 exclaimed: "Verily, 'I seek refuge from thee with the Most Gracious! [Approach me not] if thou art conscious of Him!" 18 [The angel] answered: "I am but a messenger of thy Sustainer, [who says,] 'I shall bestow upon thee the gift of a son endowed with purity.'" 19 She said, 'How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been unchaste?' 20 He said: So (it will be). Thy Lord saith: It is easy for Me. And (it will be) that We may make of him a revelation for mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is a thing ordained. 21 ۞ She conceived the child and retreated with him to a distant and solitary place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" 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 shake towards you the trunk of the palmtree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates: 25 So eat and drink thou, and cool thine eyes; and if thou beholdest the human beings anyone, say: verily I have vowed to the Compassionate a fast, so I shall not speak today 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 of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste." 28 She pointed to the child. They said, "How shall we talk to someone who is a child in the cradle?" 29 He said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; 30 He made me to be blessed wherever I am, and He has charged me with prayer and charity for as long as I shall live. 31 He has commanded me to be good to my parents and has not made me an arrogant rebellious person. 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 is Eisa (Jesus), the son of Maryam; a true statement, in 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 Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight. 36 Then groups among them differed; so ruin is for the disbelievers from the witnessing of a Great 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 And warn them of the Day of Regret when the matter will have been decided; and they are in neglect, and they do not accept faith. 39 Lo! We, only We, inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us they are returned. 40