AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. 17 She said, 'I take refuge in the All-merciful from thee! 18 He replied: "I am only a messenger from your Lord (sent) to bestow a good son on you." 19 'How shall I bear a son' she answered, 'when I am not touched by a human and not unchaste' 20 He said: "Thus will it be. Your Lord said: 'It is easy for Me,' and that: 'We shall make him a sign for men and a blessing from Us.' This is a thing already decreed." 21 ۞ So she conceived him, and she went away with him to a far 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 she heard the baby saying, "Do not be sad. Your Lord has caused a stream to run at your feet. 24 "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: It will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. 25 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'" 26 And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: O Marium! surely you have done a strange thing. 27 Aaron's sister, your father was not a bad man nor was your mother unchaste". 28 Thereupon she pointed to him. They exclaimed: "How can we talk to one who [as yet] is a little boy in the cradle?" 29 He said: "I am indeed a servant of Allah: He hath given me revelation 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 And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed; 32 And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." 33 Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. 34 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is. 35 Surely God is my Lord, and your Lord; So serve you Him. This is a straight path. 36 Yet different groups differed among themselves. How awful it will be for those who have rejected the truth when a dreadful Day arrives! 37 (Muhammad), how clearly they will hear and see on the day when they will be brought into Our presence. Today the wrong doers are in manifest error. 38 Warn them of that day of pining when all matters will have been settled, though they would still be unaware and unbelieving (of the truth). 39 Indeed, it is We who will inherit the earth and whoever is on it, and to Us they will be returned. 40