Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 16 So she took a veil (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our spirit, and there appeared to her a well-made man. 17 (And when she saw him) she said: 'I take refuge in the Merciful from you! If you are fearful' 18 If thou fearest God... He said, 'I am but a messenger come from thy Lord, to give thee a boy most 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, 'Even so thy Lord has said: "Easy is that for Me; and that We may appoint him a sign unto men and a mercy from Us; it is a thing 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 towards you the trunk of the palmtree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates: 25 So eat and drink and be consoled. And if thou meetest any mortal, say: Lo! I have vowed a fast unto the Beneficent, and may not speak this day to any mortal. 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 O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a wicked man, nor was thy mother a loose woman!" 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, "I am God's servant. He has given me the Book and made me a prophet; 30 He made me to be blessed wherever I am, and He has charged me with prayer and charity for as long as I shall live. 31 (He has made me) kind to my mother; He has not made me arrogant, unprosperous. 32 And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." 33 SUCH WAS, in the words of truth, Jesus the son of Mary, about whose nature they so deeply disagree. 34 It befitteth not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should take unto Himself a son. Glory be to Him! When He decreeth a thing, He saith unto it only: Be! and it is. 35 And [thus it was that Jesus always said]: "Verily, God is my Sustainer as well as your Sustainer; so worship [none but] Him: this [alone] is a straight way." 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 Warn them of the woeful day when the final decree will be issued; they are neglectful and faithless. 39 Surely We inherit the earth and all those who are on it, and to Us they shall be returned. 40