AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 So she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man. 17 When she saw him, she said, "I seek refuge in the compassionate God from you; [do not come near] if you fear the Lord." 18 He said: I am only a messenger of your Lord: That I will give you a pure boy. 19 She said, “How can I bear a son? No man has ever touched me, nor am I of poor conduct!” 20 He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' " 21 ۞ and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" 23 Then (the child) called out to her from beneath her: Grieve not, surely your Lord has made a stream to flow beneath you; 24 If you shake the trunk of the palm tree, it will provide you with fresh ripe dates. 25 Eat and drink and rejoice. And if you see any human being say, 'I have vowed a fast [of silence] to the Gracious God, and will not speak with any human being today.'" 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, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste." 28 Thereupon she pointed towards the child; they said, “How can we speak to an infant who is in the cradle?” 29 "I am a servant of God," he answered. "He has given me a Book and made me a prophet, 30 Blessed He has made me, wherever I may be; and He has enjoined me to pray, and to give the alms, so long as I live, 31 And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed; 32 "Hence, peace was upon me on the day when I was born, and [will be upon me] on the day of my death, and on the day when I shall be raised to life [again]!" 33 Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. That is the whole truth, about which they still dispute: 34 It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a son, glory to be Him; when He has decreed a matter He only says to it "Be," and it is. 35 And verily Allah is my Lord and your Lord; so worship Him; this is a way straight. 36 But the parties have fallen into variance among themselves, then woe to those who disbelieve for the scene of a Dreadful Day. 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 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 Verily We shall inherit the earth and whosoever is on it, and to Us they will return. 40