Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 16 We sent to her Our Spirit (Gabriel) in the resemblance of a perfect human. 17 "I seek refuge in the Merciful from you, if you fear Him," she said. 18 He said: I am but a messenger from thy Lord that I may bestow on thee a boy pure. 19 She said: in what wise shall there be a boy unto me, whereas not a human being hath touched me, nor have I been a harlot? 20 He said, 'Even so thy Lord has said: "Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is a thing decreed."' 21 ۞ Thereupon she carried him, and retired to a far off place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!" 23 Thereupon [a voice] called out to her from beneath that [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! Thy Sustainer has provided a rivulet [running] beneath thee; 24 Shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards yourself and fresh and ripe dates shall fall upon you. 25 Eat and drink and rejoice. And if you see any human being say, 'I have vowed a fast [of silence] to the Gracious God, and will not speak with any human being today.'" 26 At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought! 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 [But] he said: "Behold, I am a servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto me revelation and made me a prophet, 30 He has made me blessed wherever I may be, and has enjoined upon me prayer and almsgiving throughout my life. 31 and [has endowed me with] piety towards my mother; and He has not made me haughty or bereft of grace. 32 Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive." 33 That is Jesus, son of Mary, in word of truth, concerning which they are doubting. 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 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." 36 (The followers of Jesus) turned themselves into quarrelling sects. The disbelievers shall face a woeful condition on the great Day (of Judgment). 37 How sharp of hearing, how sharp of sight they will be when they come to Us. But today, these evil-doers are obviously lost in error. 38 Warn them of that Day of Anguish, when the matter is determined whilst heedlessly they disbelieve. 39 Verily We shall inherit the earth and whosoever is on it, and to Us they will return. 40