Recount in the Book how Mary withdrew from her people to an eastern place 16 And had chosen seclusion from them. Then We sent unto her Our Spirit and it assumed for her the likeness of a perfect man. 17 "I seek refuge in the Merciful from you, if you fear Him," she said. 18 He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." 19 She said, 'How shall I have a son whom no mortal has touched, neither have I been 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 ۞ She conceived the child and retreated with him to a distant and solitary place. 22 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: She cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" 23 He called from below to her: 'Do not sorrow, look, your Lord has provided a rivulet below you, 24 And shake towards you the trunk of the palmtree, it will drop on you fresh ripe dates: 25 Eat, drink, and rejoice. Should you see a person going by, tell him that on this day you have promised the Beneficent God to fast and never talk to any human being." 26 Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. 27 O sister of Aaron, your father was not a wicked person, nor your mother sinful!" 28 Thereupon she pointed towards the child; they said, “How can we speak to an infant who is 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 wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive 31 And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. 32 And peace on me on the day I was born, and on the day I die, and on the day I am raised to life. 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 [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." 36 Yet the sectarians differed among themselves. Alas for the unbelievers when they see the Terrible Day! 37 Much will they listen and much will they see, on the Day when they come to Us, but today the unjust are in open error. 38 Warn them of the woeful day when the final decree will be issued; they are neglectful and faithless. 39 We are the heirs of the earth and those living in it will all return to Us. 40