(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 We sent to her Our Spirit (Gabriel) in the resemblance of a perfect human. 17 (And when she saw him) she said: 'I take refuge in the Merciful from you! If you are fearful' 18 He said: I am but a messenger from thy Lord that I may bestow on thee a boy pure. 19 She said, 'How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been unchaste?' 20 [The angel] replied, "So shall it be; your Lord says, 'This is easy for Me; and We shall make him a sign to people and a blessing, from Us. This has been decreed.'" 21 ۞ Then she conceived him and withdrew with him to a far-off 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 He called from below to her: 'Do not sorrow, look, your Lord has provided a rivulet below you, 24 And shake towards you the trunk of the palmtree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates: 25 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye. And if thou dost see any man, say, 'I have vowed a fast to (Allah) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into not talk with any human being'" 26 And she came to her people with him, carrying him (with her). They said: O Marium! surely you have done a strange thing. 27 Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" 28 She pointed to the child. They said, "How shall we talk to someone who is a child in the cradle?" 29 He (the baby) said: 'I am the worshiper of Allah. Allah has given me the 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 He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked. 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 the true story of Jesus, the son of Mary, about which they dispute bitterly. 34 it does not befit the majesty of God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! He is far above that: when He decrees something, He says only, "Be!" and it is. 35 And lo! Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So serve Him. That is the right 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 well they will hear and see on the day they come to Us! But the evildoers even today are in error manifest. 38 Warn them of the woeful day when the final decree will be issued; they are neglectful and faithless. 39 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 40