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 She said: Surely I fly for refuge from you to the Beneficent Allah, if you are one guarding (against evil). 18 He replied: "I am only a messenger from your Lord (sent) to bestow a good son on you." 19 She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" 20 "Even so" he replied, "as such your Lord has said: 'Easy it is for Me. And We shall make him a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us. It is a matter decreed.'" 21 ۞ Thereupon she carried him, and retired 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 Thereupon [a voice] called out to her from beneath that [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! Thy Sustainer has provided a rivulet [running] beneath thee; 24 “And shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards you – ripe fresh dates will fall upon you.” (This was a miracle – the date palm was dry and it was winter season.) 25 So eat and drink and cool your eyes; and if you see any person say to him: 'Verily I have vowed a fast to the Most Compassionate Lord, and so I shall not speak to anyone today.' " 26 She took him to her people and they said, "Mary, this is indeed an strange thing. 27 O sister of Haroun! your father was not a bad man, nor, was your mother an unchaste woman. 28 Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child 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 And dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me insolent, unblessed; 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 Such was Jesus, son of Mary: (this is) a statement of the truth concerning which they doubt. 34 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! when He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be", and it is. 35 Surely God is my Lord, and your Lord; So serve you Him. This is a straight path. 36 Then groups among them differed; so ruin is for the disbelievers from the witnessing of a Great Day. 37 How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear 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 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 40