(O Muhammad), recite in the Book the account of Mary, when she withdrew from her people to a place towards the east; 16 and drew a curtain, screening herself from people whereupon We sent to her Our spirit and he appeared to her as a well-shaped man. 17 Mary exclaimed: "I surely take refuge from you with the Most Compassionate Lord, if you are at all God-fearing." 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 son when no mortal hath touched me, neither have I been unchaste? 20 He said, "This is true but your Lord says, "It is very easy for Me. We have decided to give you a son as evidence (of Our existence) for human beings and a mercy from Us. This is a decree already ordained." 21 ۞ And she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far 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 Thereupon [a voice] called out to her from beneath that [palm-tree]: "Grieve not! Thy Sustainer has provided a rivulet [running] beneath thee; 24 Shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards yourself and fresh and ripe dates shall fall upon you. 25 "So eat and drink and be glad, and if you see any human being, say: 'Verily! I have vowed a fast unto the Most Beneficent (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day. 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 Harun: thy father was not a man of evil, nor was thy mother a harlot. 28 Then she Pointed to him. They said: how shall we speak to one who is in the cradle, a child? 29 He Said: verily I am a bondman of Allah; He hath vouchsafed me the Book and made me a prophet. 30 “And He has made me blessed wherever I be; and ordained upon me prayer and charity, as long as I live.” 31 He has made me dutiful toward my mother, and He has not made me arrogant or wicked. 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 This was Jesus, son of Mary: A true account they contend about. 34 It does not befit Allah to appoint someone as His son – Purity is to Him! When He ordains a matter, He just commands it, “Be” – and it thereupon happens. 35 (Jesus only said:) "Surely God is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is the straight path." 36 But parties from among them disagreed with each other, so woe to those who disbelieve, because of presence on a great day. 37 See and hear them on the Day they come unto Us! yet the evil-doers are today in error manifest. 38 Warn thou them of the day of anguish, when the matter shall be determined, and they yet heedless and unbelieving. 39 Surely We shall inherit the earth and all that are upon it, and unto Us they shall be returned. 40