Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 16 and she took a veil apart from them; then We sent unto her Our Spirit that presented himself to her a man without fault. 17 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (Allah) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear Allah." 18 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 19 She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" 20 The angel said: "Thus shall it be. Your Lord says: 'It is easy for Me; and We shall do so in order to make him a Sign for mankind and a mercy from Us. This has been decreed.' " 21 ۞ When she conceived him she went away to a distant place. 22 Then the pangs of childbirth brought her to the base of the palm-tree; she said, “Oh, if only had I died before this and had become forgotten, unremembered.” 23 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; 24 If you shake the trunk of the palm tree, it will provide you with fresh ripe dates. 25 So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' " 26 Then she brought him to her own folk, carrying him. They said: O Mary! Thou hast come with an amazing thing. 27 O sister of Harun: thy father was not a man of evil, nor was thy mother a harlot. 28 But she pointed to him. They said: How should we speak to one who was a child in the cradle? 29 He said: Surely I am a servant of Allah; He has given me the Book 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 Peace be upon me, the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I am raised up alive!' 33 Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. That is the whole truth, about which they still dispute: 34 It befits not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son [this refers to the slander of Christians against Allah, by saying that 'Iesa (Jesus) is the son of Allah]. Glorified (and Exalted be He above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, 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 The sects among them differ: but woe unto the disbelievers from the meeting of an awful Day. 37 How keenly would they hear and see when they come before Us then, even though today the evil-doers are lost in palpable error. 38 And warn thou them of the Day of Sighing when the affair shall have been decreed while yet they are in negligence and are not believing. 39 It is We Who will inherit the earth, and all beings thereon: to Us will they all be returned. 40