(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 out of her people's sight. We sent Our Spirit to her, who stood before her in the shape of a well formed human being. 17 (And when she saw him) she said: 'I take refuge in the Merciful from you! If you are fearful' 18 He said, “I am indeed one sent by your Lord; so that I may give you a chaste son.” 19 Said she: "How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me? - for, never have I been a loose woman!" 20 The angel said: "Thus shall it be. Your Lord says: 'It is easy for Me; and We shall do so in order to make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. This has been decreed.' " 21 ۞ So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote 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 Then (a voice) called to her from below: "Grieve not; your Lord has made a rivulet gush forth right below you. 24 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards you – ripe fresh dates will fall upon you.” (This was a miracle – the date palm was dry and it was winter season.) 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 Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. 27 O sister of Aaron, your father was never an evil 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 spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, 30 And He hath made me blest wheresoever I may be, and enjoined on me the prayer and the poor-rate as long as I am alive. 31 and has made me dutiful to my mother. He has not made me oppressive, nor bereft of God's blessings. 32 Blessed was I on the day I was born, and blessed I shall be on the day I die and on the day I am raised to life again." 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 And yet, the sects [that follow the Bible] are at variance among themselves [about the nature of Jesus Woe, then, unto all who deny the truth when that awesome Day will appear! 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 Warn them of [the coming of] the Day of Remorse, when everything will have been decided, while they are heedless and do not believe. 39 For We shall inherit the earth and all that are on it. To Us, they shall return. 40