(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 and drew a curtain, screening herself from people whereupon We sent to her Our spirit and he appeared to her as a well-shaped man. 17 She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." 18 He said, “I am indeed one sent by your Lord; so that I may give you a chaste son.” 19 Mary said: "How can a boy be born to me when no man has even touched me, nor have I ever been unchaste?" 20 [The angel] answered: "Thus it is; [but] thy Sustainer says, 'This is easy for Me; and [thou shalt have a son,] so that We might make him a symbol unto mankind and an act of grace from US. And it was a thing decreed [by God]: 21 ۞ So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (i.e. Bethlehem valley about 4-6 miles from Jerusalem). 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 (a voice) called to her from below: "Grieve not; your Lord has made a rivulet gush forth right below you. 24 and if you shake the trunk of this palm-tree, it will drop fresh ripe dates on you. 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 folk carrying him; and they said, 'Mary, thou hast surely committed a monstrous thing! 27 "O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!" 28 But she pointed towards him. "How can we talk to one," they said, "who is only an infant 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 blessed me wherever I may be, and enjoined on me worship and zakat for as long as I live, 31 (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. 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 Such is 'lsa, son of Maryam: this is the word of truth wherein they are doubting. 34 It is not for Allah to take a son! Exaltations to Him! When He decrees a thing He only says: 'Be' and it is. 35 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way." 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 keenly would they hear and see when they come before Us then, even though today the evil-doers are lost in palpable error. 38 And warn them of the day of intense regret, when the matter shall have been decided; and they are (now) in negligence and they do not believe. 39 Verily! We will inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon. And to Us they all shall be returned, 40