Surah Maryam

Verses 16-33 from Surah Maryam, the 19th chapter of The Qur’an.
English translation by M.A.S Abel Haleem (Oxford University press)
Arranged by Paul Kelly


Mention in the Scripture the story of Mary. She withdrew from her family to a place east and secluded herself away. We sent Our Spirit to appear before her in the form of a normal human. She said, ‘I seek the Lord of Mercy’s protection against you: if you have any fear of Him do not approach.’ But he said ‘I am but a messenger from your Lord, come to announce to you the gift of a pure son.’ She said “How can I have a son when no man has been with me? I have not been unchaste,’ and he said, ‘This is what your Lord said: “It is easy for Me – We shall make him a sign to all people, a blessing from us.”’
And so it was ordained: she conceived him. She withdrew to a distant place and when the pangs of childbirth drove her to cling to the trunk of a palm tree, she exclaimed, ‘I wish I had been dead and forgotten long before all this!’ But a voice cried to her from below. ‘Do not worry: your Lord has provided a stream at your feet and, if you shake the trunk of the palm tree towards you, it will deliver fresh, ripe dates for you, so eat, drink, be glad and say to anyone you may see: “I have vowed to the Lord of Mercy to abstain from conversation. And I will not talk to anyone today.”’
She went back to her people carrying the child, and they said, ‘Mary! You have done something terrible! Sister of Aaron! Your father was not a bad man; your mother was not unchaste!’ She pointed at him. They said, ‘How can we converse with an infant?’ But He said: ‘I am a servant of God. He has granted me the Scripture; made me a prophet; made me blessed wherever I may be; to give alms as long as I live, to cherish my mother. He did not make me domineering or graceless. Peace was on me the day I was born, and will be on me, the day that I die and the day I am raised to life again.’