O Prophet, tell the people, "If you sincerely love Allah follow me; then will Allah love you and forgive your sins, for He is Forgiving and Merciful. " Also say to them, "Obey Allah and His Messenger." And if, in spite of this, they do not accept your invitation, (warn them that) Allah does not love those who refuse to obey Him and His Messenger.28 Allah29 had chosen (for His Message) Adam, and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran30 in preference to all the people of the world. They all belonged to the same chain and were the offspring of one another. Allah knows everything and hears everything.31 (He was hearing,) when the woman of `Imran32 was saying,. "My Lord, 1 vow to Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: so accept this offering of mine for Thou hearest and knowest everything."33 Afterwards when she delivered her child, she said, "Lord, I have delivered a girl" --- and Allah knew very well what she had delivered --- "and the male is not (handicapped) like the female.34 As it is, I have named her Mary, and I implore Thy protection for her and for her future offspring from the mischief of Satan, the Accursed." So, her Lord very graciously accepted the girl and made her grow up as a good girl and entrusted her to the care of Zacharias. Whenever Zacharias35 entered the sanctuary36 to see her, he found some eatables with her; he would ask, "O Mary, whence have these come to you?" She would answer, "It is from Allah: Allah provides without stint for whom He wills." Thereupon Zacharias invoked his Lord and said, "Lord, bestow upon me from Thyself righteous offspring for Thou alone hearest prayers."37 As he stood praying in the sanctuary, the angels called him and said, "Allah gives you the good news of a son to be named John;38 he will come to confirm a Command from Allah;39 he will be a great leader: he will be highly disciplined: he will be appointed a Prophet, and will be among the righteous." Zacharias said, "Lord, how shall I beget a son now that I have grown very old and my wife is barren?" "Thus will it be,”40 was the answer. "Allah does whatever He wills." He said, "Lord, give me a Sign."41 "Your Sign is that you shall not (be able to) speak to anyone for three days but by gestures. During this period you should remember your Lord much and glorify His Name in the morning and in the evening."42