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shall be John. We have not given 16 Recount in the Book how
such a name to anyone before.’ Mary withdrew from her people
8 ‘My Lord!’ [said Zachariah], to an eastern place 17 and kept
‘How shall I have a son when my herself in seclusion from them.
wife is barren and I have reached We sent her Our angel, who
such extreme old age?’ presented himself to her as
9
He said, ‘It will be so! Your a full-grown human being.
Lord says, ‘‘It is easy for Me for 18 When she saw him, she said, ‘I
I created you when you were seek refuge in the compassionate
10
nothing before.”’ He said, ‘My God from you; [do not come
19
Lord, grant me a sign!’ He said, near] if you fear the Lord.’ ‘I
‘Your sign will be that you will am only the messenger of your
not speak to anyone for three Lord,’ he replied. ‘I shall bestow
successive days and nights, upon you the gift of a son
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11
although sound in body.’ Then endowed with purity.’ She said,
Zachariah came forth from the ‘How can I have a son when no
shrine to his people and told man has touched me; and neither
them by signs to glorify the Lord have I been unchaste?’ 21 [The
morning and evening. angel] replied, ‘So shall it be;
12 To John We said, ‘Hold fast your Lord says, “This is easy for
the Book,’ and while he was still Me; and We shall make him a
a child, We bestowed upon him sign to people and a blessing,
wisdom, 13 and tenderness [of from Us. This has been
heart] and purity. He was pious, decreed.”’
14 22
and dutiful towards his parents So she conceived him and
and was not haughty or withdrew with him to a distant
15
disobedient. Peace be on him place. 23 The pains of labour
on the day of his birth, and on drove her to the trunk of a date-
the day of his death, and peace palm. She said, ‘Oh, if only I had
will be on him on the day he is died before this and passed into
raised up to life again. oblivion!’