So she conceived him and withdrew with him to a distant place, fearful of people’s accusations and harm. The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a palm tree, where she cried, “Would that I had died before this and been forgotten, utterly forgotten!” (Q 19:22–23). She spoke thus because she knew what she would face from the people, certain they would not believe her, and she did not know what Allah would do for her.

Then the angel called to her from below—she was on an elevated spot—just as Allah says elsewhere, “We sheltered them on a hillside with level ground and running water” (Q 23:50). He said, “Do not grieve; your Lord has placed a stream beneath you. Shake the trunk of the palm tree toward yourself and it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon you. So eat, drink, and let your eyes be comforted” (Q 19:24–26)—eat of the dates, drink from the brook, and rejoice at the birth of Jesus; let your fear and anxiety depart.

“If you see any human being,” he continued, “say, ‘I have vowed a fast to the All-Merciful’”—meaning a fast of silence, for it was customary among them to worship by remaining silent the entire day. Hence the clarification: “so today I will not speak to anyone” (Q 19:26). Her heart was thus reassured and the distress she had felt disappeared.

When her post-partum bleeding ended, she put her affairs in order and regained her strength after childbirth; she then brought him to her people, carrying him openly, unafraid and unconcerned. Seeing the child—knowing she had no husband—her people were certain he must have come by other, illicit means and exclaimed, “Mary, you have done something monstrous! Sister of Aaron, your father was never an evil man, nor was your mother unchaste” (Q 19:27–28). She pointed to him, as she had been commanded. They retorted, “How can we speak to one who is an infant in the cradle?” Then, though only a few days old, he declared:

“I am the servant of Allah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed wherever I may be and has enjoined on me prayer and zakah as long as I live. He has made me dutiful to my mother and has not made me arrogant or miserable. Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I am raised alive” (Q 19:30–33).