( 16 ) And mention, [O Muhammad], in the Book [the story of] Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place toward the east. br br ( 17 ) 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. br br ( 18 ) She said, "Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, [so leave me], if you should be fearing of Allah." br ( 19 ) He said, "I am only the messenger of your Lord to give you [news of] a pure boy." br br ( 20 ) She said, "How can I have a boy while no man has touched me and I have not been unchaste?" br br ( 21 ) He said, "Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, 'It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter [already] decreed.' " br br ( 22 ) So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a remote place. br br ( 23 ) And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten." br br ( 24 ) But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream. br br ( 25 ) And shake toward you the trunk of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. br ( 26 ) So eat and drink and be contented. And if you see from among humanity anyone, say, 'Indeed, I have vowed to the Most Merciful abstention, so I will not speak today to [any] man.' " br br ( 27 ) Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said, "O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. br br ( 28 ) O sister of Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother unchaste." br br ( 29 ) So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one who is in the cradle a child?" br br ( 30 ) [Jesus] said, "Indeed, I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. br ( 31 ) And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive br br ( 32 ) And [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. br br ( 33 ) And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." br br ( 34 ) That is Jesus, the son of Mary - the word of truth about which they are in dispute. br br ( 35 ) It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. br br ( 36 ) [Jesus said], "And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path." br br ( 37 ) Then the factions differed [concerning Jesus] from among them, so woe to those who disbelieved - from the scene of a tremendous Day. br br ( 38 ) How [clearly] they will hear and see the Day they come to Us, but the wrongdoers today are in clear error. br br ( 39 ) And warn them, [O Muhammad], of the Day of Regret, when the matter will be concluded; and [yet], they are in [a state of] heedlessness, and they do not believe.