The Heavens are Almost Torn, and the Earth is Split Asunder, and the Mountains Fall in Ruins

Follow @AhleDhikr 88. And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children). 
89. Indeed you have brought forth a terrible evil thing.
90. Whereby the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins,
91. That they ascribe a son (or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allaah).
92. But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent that He should beget a son (or children).
93. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent as a slave. 

[Maryam 19:88-93]

88. And they say: "The Most Beneficent (Allah) has begotten a son (or children)”: meaning the People of the Book believe this (i.e. the Jews taking Uzayr as a son with Allaah or the Christians with ‘Esaa) as well as those who believe that the Angels are the daughters of Allaah (some of the Mushriks of Makkah believed this).

89. Indeed you have brought forth a terrible evil thing: Ibn ‘Abbaas [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said that this means they have invented a terrible lie. 

Qataadah, Mujaahid and Muqaatil [May Allaah have Mercy on them] said this means that they have said something which is extremely calamitous[1]. 

90. Where-by the heavens are almost torn, and the earth is split asunder, and the mountains fall in ruins: Naafi’ [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said that ‘almost’ means it is, i.e. that heavensARE torn apart by their false attribution. This is similar to the account given when the Last Day will begin:

1. When the heaven is cleft asunder.
2. And when the stars have fallen and scattered;
3. And when the seas are burst forth;
4. And when the graves are turned upside down (and they bring out their contents)

[Surah al-Infitraar 82:1-4]

91. That they ascribe a son (or children) to the Most Beneficent (Allaah): meaning, these things happen (or almost happen based on the difference of opinion between the Mufasireen) because of what they have invented (in their false claims). The heavens, the earths, the mountains and everything within the creation, except for the man and the jinn, are almost torn apart because of this false statement. 

92. But it is not suitable for (the Majesty of) the Most Beneficent that He should beget a son (or children): meaning, it is not befitting for Him to have a son or even be attributed with one.

93. There is none in the heavens and the earth but comes unto the Most Beneficent as a slave: meaning, the creation in its entirety will be subdued and submissive on that Day, all of them being enslaved and nothing from their affairs will be hidden. They will be brought by themselves and none can avail them on that Day.

[Tafseer Ma’aalim at-Tanzeel by Imaam al-Baghawee (5/257-259)]

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[1] A principle in Tafseer is that there may exist two different wordings to an interpretation but both are deemed as being correct.

Shaykh Sa’d bin Naasir ash-Shithree [may Allaah Preserve him] explained: “If there are multiple Tafseers for one word (such as a word that is known as a Mushtarak word) we explain the Aayah with all the possible meanings as long as they do not contradict each other, this is the opinion of the majority like Imaam Ahmad and others, opposing the view of Imaam ash-Shaafi’ee who believed that the Tafseer can only have one meaning. (If they contradict, then this is subject to further discussion which will be discussed in a separate post, In Shaa Allaah).” [Adapted from Sharh Minhaaj al-Wusool, Tape 6 (107-19mins)]