(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 and kept herself in seclusion from them, whereupon We sent unto her Our angel of revelation, who appeared to her in the shape of a well-made human being. 17 She said, 'I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee! 18 He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. 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 "Even so" he replied, "as such your Lord has said: 'Easy it is for Me. And We shall make him a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us. It is a matter decreed.'" 21 ۞ And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place. 22 The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, "Oh, if only I had died before this and passed into oblivion!" 23 He called from below to her: 'Do not sorrow, look, your Lord has provided a rivulet below you, 24 And shake toward thee the trunk of the palm-tree it shall drop on thee dates fresh and ripe. 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 Carrying her child, she brought him to her people. They said, "O Mary, you have indeed done something terrible! 27 O sister of Aaron, your father was never an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste' 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, "I am God's servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; 30 He has blessed me no matter where I dwell, commanded me to worship Him and pay the religious tax for as long as I live. 31 (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. 32 And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life. 33 Such was (Prophet) Jesus, the son of Mary. A saying of truth, concerning what they doubt. 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 Verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight. 36 But the parties have fallen into variance among themselves; then woe to those who disbelieve for the scene of a dreadful day. 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 And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe. 39 We are the heirs of the earth and those living in it will all return to Us. 40