Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 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 "I seek refuge in the Merciful from you, if you fear Him," she said. 18 He said: I am but a messenger from thy Lord that I may bestow on thee a boy pure. 19 She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" 20 He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: 'That is easy for Me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed, (by Allah). 21 ۞ So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place. 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 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; 24 and shake the trunk of this palmtree it will drop fresh ripe dates upon you. 25 Eat therefore, and drink, and be comforted; and if thou shouldst see any mortal, say, "I have vowed to the All-merciful a fast, and today I will not speak to any man. 26 Then she brought the child to her people. They exclaimed: "O Mary, you have done a most astonishing thing! 27 "O sister (i.e. the like) of Harun (Aaron) [not the brother of Musa (Moses), but he was another pious man at the time of Maryam (Mary)]! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman." 28 But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" 29 [But] he said: "Behold, I am a servant of God. He has vouchsafed unto me revelation and made me a prophet, 30 and made me blessed wherever I may be; and He has enjoined 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 And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." 33 This is Eisa (Jesus), the son of Maryam; a true statement, in which they doubt. 34 It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. 35 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord therefore worship Him. That is the Straight Path. 36 Then the sects differed [i.e. the Christians about 'Iesa (Jesus)], so woe unto the disbelievers [those who gave false witness by saying that 'Iesa (Jesus) is the son of Allah] from the meeting of a great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection, when they will be thrown in the blazing Fire). 37 How plainly will they see and hear, the Day that they will appear before Us! but the unjust today are in error manifest! 38 And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe. 39 Surely We shall inherit the earth and all that are upon it, and unto Us they shall be returned. 40