Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place 16 And took cover from them, We sent a spirit of Ours to her who appeared before her in the concrete form of a man. 17 She said: I verily seek refuge with the Compassionate from thee if thou art God-fearing. 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, "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 withdrew with him to a distant place. 22 And the birthpangs surprised her by the trunk of the palm-tree. She said, 'Would I had died ere this, and become a thing forgotten!' 23 But the one that was below her called to her, 'Nay, do not sorrow; see, thy Lord has set below thee a rivulet. 24 "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you." 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 Then she came to her people, carrying her baby. They said: "O Mary! You have committed a monstrous thing. 27 O sister of Aaron, your father was never an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste' 28 Thereupon she pointed to him. They exclaimed: "How can we talk to one who [as yet] is a little boy 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 (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. 32 Peace be upon me the day I was born and the day I will die, and the day I will be raised up alive." 33 This is Eisa (Jesus), the son of Maryam; a true statement, in which they doubt. 34 It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. 35 Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord therefore worship Him. That is the Straight Path. 36 Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day. 37 How sharp of hearing, how sharp of sight they will be when they come to Us. But today, these evil-doers are obviously lost in error. 38 But warn them of the Day of Distress, when the matter will be determined: for (behold,) they are negligent and they do not believe! 39 Indeed We shall inherit the earth and all that is on it, and only towards Us will they return. 40