(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 And took cover from them, We sent a spirit of Ours to her who appeared before her in the concrete form of a man. 17 She said: I verily seek refuge with the Compassionate from thee if thou art God-fearing. 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 "How can I have a son," she said, "when no man has touched me, nor am I sinful?" 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 [when] the throes of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree, she exclaimed: "Oh, would that I had died ere this, and had become a thing forgotten, utterly forgotten!" 23 But the one that was below her called to her, 'Nay, do not sorrow; see, thy Lord has set below thee a rivulet. 24 If you shake the trunk of the palm tree, it will provide you with fresh ripe dates. 25 Therefore eat and drink and rejoice with your eyes. If you meet any human say to him: "I have vowed a fast to the Merciful and will not speak with anyone today.' 26 Then she brought the child to her people. They exclaimed: "O Mary, you have done a most astonishing thing! 27 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. 28 Then she Pointed to him. They said: how shall 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 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 duteous unto my mother, and hath not made me high-handed, unblest. 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 God is too Exalted to have a son. When He decides to bring some thing into existence He needs only command it to exist and it comes into existence. 35 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord therefore worship Him. That is the Straight Path. 36 Yet the sectarians differed among themselves. Alas for the unbelievers when they see the Terrible Day! 37 How clearly shall they hear and how clearly shall they see on the day when they come to Us; but the unjust this day are in manifest error. 38 (O Muhammad), warn those who are steeped in heedlessness and are obstinately rejecting the truth that the Day shall come when things will be finally decided and they shall be left with utter remorse. 39 Behold, We alone shall remain after the earth and all who live on it have passed away, and [when] unto Us all will have been brought back. 40