AND CALL to mind, through this divine writ, Mary. Lo! She withdrew from her family to an eastern place 16 And she took, in seclusion from them, a screen. Then We sent to her Our Angel, and he represented himself to her as a well-proportioned man. 17 She said, “I seek the refuge of the Most Gracious from you – if you fear God.” 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 Said she: "How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me? - for, never have I been a loose woman!" 20 He said, “So it is; your Lord has said, ‘This is easy for Me’; and in order that We make him a sign for mankind and a Mercy from Us; and this matter has been decreed.” 21 ۞ and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off 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 Thereupon the angel below her cried out: "Grieve not, for your Lord has caused a stream of water to flow beneath you. 24 "And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you." 25 Eat therefore, and drink, and be comforted; and if thou shouldst see any mortal, say, "I have vowed to the All-merciful a fast, and today I will not speak to any man. 26 Then she brought the child to her folk carrying him; and they said, 'Mary, thou hast surely committed a monstrous thing! 27 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man nor was thy mother a harlot. 28 Thereupon Mary pointed to the child. They exclaimed: "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle, a mere child?" 29 He spake: Lo! I am the slave of Allah. He hath given me the Scripture and hath appointed me a Prophet, 30 "And He hath made me blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; 31 "And dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. 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 SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree. 34 It beseems not Allah that He should take to Himself a son, glory to be Him; when He has decreed a matter 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 (The followers of Jesus) turned themselves into quarrelling sects. The disbelievers shall face a woeful condition on the great Day (of Judgment). 37 How well will they hear and see [the truth] on the Day when they come before Us! Today, however, these evildoers are obviously lost in error: 38 Warn them of that Day of Anguish, when the matter is determined whilst heedlessly they disbelieve. 39 For We shall inherit the earth and all that are on it. To Us, they shall return. 40