Joseph and Mary used to take turns in serving the temple.

Joseph and Mary used to take turns in serving the temple. When they ran out of water, each would take the pitcher and go to the cave to obtain water then return to the temple. The day that she met Gabriel was the longest and the hottest day of the year.

She had run out of water, so she asked her cousin, “Shall we go together, O Joseph, to obtain water?” He said, “I have some water left which will suffice me for today.” She said, “But I, by Allah, am out of water!” She took her pitcher and went out alone till she came to the cave where she met Gabriel whom Allah made to appear to her as an ordinary man. He told her that Allah had sent him to grant her a pure boy.

She said, “Surely I seek refuge from you with the Beneficent God if you are God-fearing” (Qur'an, 19:18), that is, a pious, obedient to his Lord.

Imam `Ali has said, “I have come to know that a pious person is one who has compassion for others and is merciful, and she thought that he (Gabriel) was a man, a human.” `Ikrimah has said, “Gabriel appeared to her in the form of a young beardless man with curly hair, and in perfect form.” Wise men have said that Allah Almighty sent him in human form so that Mary would be able to remain self-composed and listen to his speech.

Had he appeared in his normal form, she would have been frightened by him and would have shunned him. When Mary sought refuge with Allah against him, he said to her, “I am only a messenger of your Lord to give you (the glad tiding of) a pure boy. She said: How can I have a boy while no mortal has yet touched me, nor have I been unchaste?

He (53) said: Even so; your Lord says: It is easy for Me, and so that We may make him a sign to men and a mercy from Us, and it is a matter already decreed” (Qur'an, 19:19-21). Having heard his statement, she submitted to Allah's decree, whereupon Gabriel blew in the pocket of her loose outer garment. By then, she had taken it off. Once he had left, Mary filled her pitcher with water, put her outer garment on, instantly and unconsciously conceiving of Jesus, then went back to the temple.

Another story of how Mary conceived is narrated, or say suggested, by al-Suddi and `Ikrimah who have said that Mary used to remain in the temple as long as she was clean. Once she started her period, she would go to her aunt's house till she became clean again and would then return.