Islam and Mary

And mention in the Book (the Qur'an, O Muhammad) the story of) Mary, when she withdrew in seclusion from her family to a place facing east. She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them; then We sent to her Our Spirit (the Angel Gabriel), and he appeared before her in the form of a man in all respects. She said: "Verily, I seek refuge with the Most Gracious (Allah) from you, if you do fear Allah." (The angel) said: "I am only a messenger from your Lord (to announce) to you the gift of a righteous son." She said: "How can I have a son when no man has touched me, nor am I unchaste? " He said: "So (it will be), your Lord said: That is easy for Me (Allah): And (We wish) to appoint him as a sign to mankind and a mercy from Us (Allah), and it is a matter (already) decreed (by Allah)." So she conceived him, and she withdrew with him to a far place (in Bethlehem). And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said: "Would that I had died before this, and had been forgotten and out of sight!" Then [the babe Jesus (or Gabriel)] cried unto her from below her, saying: "Grieve not: your Lord has provided a water stream under you. And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you. So eat and drink and be glad. And if you see any human being, say: Verily, I have vowed a fast unto the Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day." Then she brought him (the baby) to her people, carrying him. They said: "O Mary! Indeed you have brought a mighty thing. O sister of Aaron! Your father was not a man who used to commit adultery, nor your mother was an unchaste woman." Then she pointed to him. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" He (Jesus) said: "Verily, I am a slave of Allah; He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet. And He has made me blessed wheresoever I be, and has enjoined on me prayer, and alms-giving as long as I live. And made me dutiful to my mother, and made me not arrogant, unblest. And peace be upon me the day I was born, and the day I die, and the day I shall be raised alive! " Such is Jesus, son of Mary. (It is) a statement of truth, about which they doubt (or dispute). It befits not (the Majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son (this refers to the slander of Christians against Allah, by saying that Jesus is the son of Allah). Glorified (and Exalted is He above all that they associate with Him). When He decrees a thing, He only says to it: "Be!" and it is! Jesus said: "And verily, Allah is my Lord and your Lord. So worship Him (Alone). That is the Straight Path." 

And (Remember) when the angels said: "O Mary! Verily, Allah has chosen you and purified you (from polytheism and disbelief), and chosen you above the women of the worlds (mankind and Jinn) (of her lifetime). O Mary! Submit yourself with obedience to your Lord (Allah, by worshipping none but Him Alone) and prostrate yourself, and bow down along with those who bow down." This is a part of the news of the unseen which We reveal to you O Muhammad. You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Mary, nor were you with them when they disputed. (Remember) when the angels said: "O Mary! Verily, Allah gives you the glad tidings of a Word (Be!) and he was! Jesus the son of Mary, from Him, his name will be the Messiah Jesus the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and in the hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allah. He will speak to the people, in the cradle and in manhood, and he will be one of the righteous." She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?" He said: "So (it will be) for Allah creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only (Be!) and it is".