the quran's narrative of the birth of isa is different from that of jesus as found in the new testament. the quran says that mary was suffering childbirth pains, when she saw a nearby palm tree and held on to it. while she was holding on to the tree, she heard a voice that seemed to come from the earth beneath the tree. the voice said, "grieve not! thy lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thy feet. shake the trunk of the palm-tree towards thyself and it will drop its fresh ripe dates upon thee." mary then promised not to speak with any man that day.