AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 So there she screened herself from them; We therefore sent Our Spirit towards her – he appeared before her in the form of a healthy man. (Angel Jibreel – peace be upon him.) 17 "I seek refuge in the Merciful from you, if you fear Him," she said. 18 [The angel] answered: "I am but a messenger of thy Sustainer, [who says,] 'I shall bestow upon thee the gift of a son endowed with purity.'" 19 She said: When shall I have a boy and no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste? 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 ۞ So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." 23 Then (a voice) called to her from below: "Grieve not; your Lord has made a rivulet gush forth right below you. 24 Shake also to thee the palm-trunk, and there shall come tumbling upon thee dates fresh and ripe. 25 So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day 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, thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a woman unchaste.' 28 Then she Pointed to him. They said: how shall we speak to one who is in the cradle, a child? 29 The child cried out: "Verily I am Allah's servant. He has granted me the Book and has made me a Prophet 30 And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive 31 He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked. 32 Peace be upon me on the day I was born, and on the day I die; and on the day when I shall be raised up alive' 33 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 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 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 Much will they listen and much will they see, on the Day when they come to Us, but today the unjust are in open error. 38 Warn them of that day of pining when all matters will have been settled, though they would still be unaware and unbelieving (of the truth). 39 Verily We! We shall inherit the earth and whatsoever is thereon: and unto Us they shall be returned. 40