Page:The Mohammedan system of theology (IA mohammedansyste00neal).pdf/240

 trunk of a palm tree. She said, Would to God I had died before this, and had become a thing forgotten and lost in oblivion! And he who was beneath her called to her, saying, Be not grieved: now hath God provided a rivulet under thee; and do thou shake the body of the palm-tree, and it shall let fall ripe dates upon thee, ready gathered. And eat and drink and calm thy mind. Moreover if thou see any man and he question thee, say, Verily I have vowed a fast unto the merciful; wherefore I will by no means speak to a man this day. So she brought the child to her people, carrying him in her arms. And they said unto her, O Mary, now hast thou done a strange thing: O sister of Aaron