(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 out of her people's sight. We sent Our Spirit to her, who stood before her in the shape of a well formed human being. 17 She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." 18 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 19 She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I 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 ۞ And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." 23 Then she heard the baby saying, "Do not be sad. Your Lord has caused a stream to run at your feet. 24 Shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards yourself and fresh and ripe dates shall fall upon you. 25 So eat and drink and cool your eyes; and if you see any person say to him: 'Verily I have vowed a fast to the Most Compassionate Lord, and so I shall not speak to anyone today.' " 26 She took him to her people and they said, "Mary, this is indeed an strange thing. 27 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a loose woman!" 28 Then she pointed to him. They said: How can we talk to one who is in the cradle, a young boy? 29 [But] he said, "I am God's servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; 30 And He hath made me blest wheresoever I may be, and enjoined on me the prayer and the poor-rate as long as I am alive. 31 (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. 32 "And Salam (peace) be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive!" 33 Such was (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary. A saying of truth, concerning what they doubt. 34 It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a son, glory to be Him; when He has decreed a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is. 35 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way." 36 The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day. 37 How well they will hear and see on the Day when they come before Us! The evildoers are today in clear 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 Lo! We, only We, inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us they are returned. 40