And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. 16 We sent to her Our Spirit (Gabriel) in the resemblance of a perfect human. 17 She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Beneficent (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." 18 He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son. 19 'How shall I bear a son' she answered, 'when I am not touched by a human and not unchaste' 20 He said: even so! Thy Lord saith: it is with Me easy, and it is in order that We may make him a sign unto mankind and a mercy from Us, and it is an affair decreed. 21 ۞ and in time she conceived him, and then she withdrew with him to a far-off place. 22 And the pangs of childbirth drove her unto the trunk of the palm-tree. She said: Oh, would that I had died ere this and had become a thing of naught, forgotten! 23 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; 24 and shake the trunk of this palmtree it will drop fresh ripe dates upon you. 25 So eat and drink and refresh the eye. Then if you see any mortal, say: Surely I have vowed a fast to the Beneficent Allah, so I shall not speak to any man today. 26 She took him to her people and they said, "Mary, this is indeed an strange thing. 27 Sister of Aaron, your father was not an evil man, nor was your mother an unchaste woman!" 28 But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" 29 "I am a servant of God," he answered. "He has given me a Book and made me a prophet, 30 "And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me Salat (prayer), and Zakat, as long as I live." 31 And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 32 And peace be on me the day I was born and the day I die and the day I shall be raised up alive. 33 Such was Jesus, the son of Mary. That is the whole truth, about which they still dispute: 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 (Jesus only said:) "Surely God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is the straight path." 36 Yet the sectarians differed among themselves. Alas for the unbelievers when they see the Terrible Day! 37 How clearly shall they hear and how clearly shall they see on the day when they come to Us; but the unjust this day are in manifest 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 Surely We inherit the earth and all those who are on it, and to Us they shall be returned. 40