Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 16 and kept herself in seclusion from them, whereupon We sent unto her Our angel of revelation, who appeared to her in the shape of a well-made human being. 17 She exclaimed: "Verily, 'I seek refuge from thee with the Most Gracious! [Approach me not] if thou art conscious of Him!" 18 "I am only the messenger of your Lord," he replied. "I shall bestow upon you the gift of a son endowed with purity." 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 He said, "This is true but your Lord says, "It is very easy for Me. We have decided to give you a son as evidence (of Our existence) for human beings and a mercy from Us. This is a decree already ordained." 21 ۞ and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off place. 22 And when the birthpangs came upon her by the trunk of a palmtree, she said: 'Oh, would that I had died before this and become a thing forgotten' 23 But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. 24 "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you." 25 Eat, then, and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened! And if thou shouldst see any human being, convey this unto him: 'Behold, abstinence from speech have I vowed unto the Most Gracious; hence, I may not speak today to any mortal. 26 Then she brought the child to her people. They exclaimed: "O Mary, you have done a most astonishing thing! 27 Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" 28 So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" 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 has made me good to my mother and not made me forceful, ill-fated.” 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 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 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 (Jesus had said): "Indeed Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so serve Him alone. This is the Straight Way." 36 The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day. 37 How clearly will they (polytheists and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah) see and hear, the Day when they will appear before Us! But the Zalimun (polytheists and wrong-doers) today are in plain error. 38 Warn thou them of the day of anguish, when the matter shall be determined, and they yet heedless and unbelieving. 39 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 40