Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people 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 seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." 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 She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" 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 ۞ So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. 22 The birth pangs led her to the trunk of a date-palm tree. "Would that I had died before this," she said, "and become a thing forgotten, unremembered." 23 But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. 24 and if you shake the trunk of this palm-tree, it will drop fresh ripe dates on you. 25 So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal. 26 And in time she returned to her people, carrying the child with her. They said: "O Mary! Thou hast indeed done an amazing thing! 27 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a loose woman!" 28 Thereupon she pointed towards the child; they said, “How can we speak to an infant who is in the cradle?” 29 He said, "I am the servant of God. He has given me the Book and has appointed me to be a Prophet. 30 “And He has made me blessed wherever I be; and ordained upon me prayer and charity, as long as I live.” 31 And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 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, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. 34 It does not behove God to have a son. Too immaculate is He! When He decrees a thing He has only to say: "Be", and it is. 35 God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone. That is the right 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 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 And warn them of the Day of Regret when the matter will have been decided; and they are in neglect, and they do not accept faith. 39 Lo! We, only We, inherit the earth and all who are thereon, and unto Us they are returned. 40