فَٱتَّخَذَتۡ

مِن

دُونِهِمۡ

حِجَابٗا

فَأَرۡسَلۡنَآ

إِلَيۡهَا

رُوحَنَا

فَتَمَثَّلَ

لَهَا

بَشَرٗا

سَوِيّٗا

١٧

screening herself off from them. Then We sent to her Our angel, ˹Gabriel,˺ appearing before her as a man, perfectly formed.

She appealed, “I truly seek refuge in the Most Compassionate from you! ˹So leave me alone˺ if you are God-fearing.”

He responded, “I am only a messenger from your Lord, ˹sent˺ to bless you with a pure son.”

She wondered, “How can I have a son when no man has ever touched me, nor am I unchaste?”

He replied, “So will it be! Your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me. And so will We make him a sign for humanity and a mercy from Us.’ It is a matter ˹already˺ decreed.”

So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a remote place.

Then the pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She cried, “Alas! I wish I had died before this, and was a thing long forgotten!”

So a voice¹ reassured her from below her, “Do not grieve! Your Lord has provided a stream at your feet.

And shake the trunk of this palm tree towards you, it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon you.