Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The intended meaning is those idols which are made for the purpose of worship; those who make such idols are disbelievers (kuffar), and they will remain in Hell forever. If they are not made for worship, even then making an image (statue) of a living being is a major sin (kabirah), and there will be severe punishment for it. Making images of inanimate objects is not forbidden (haram), but taking photographs of living beings is also impermissible (najaa'iz).

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Creating images of living beings is forbidden (haram) and a major sin (kabirah), but those who make such images for the purpose of worship are outright disbelievers (kuffar) and will be fuel for Hellfire forever.
Even if the images are not made for worship, they will still face the severest punishment as mentioned in the hadith. Furthermore, there is no distinction in this matter whether the image is on cloth, on paper, engraved on a coin, or carved on a wall—the aforementioned warning applies to all.

(2)
In the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), there were three types of images:
• Idols made of wood and stone, which were called "tamsil" (statues).
These had a proper body and were carved specifically for worship.
The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) commanded that such statues be destroyed.
Carving and keeping them is forbidden (haram).
• Images were also depicted on clothes, but these had no separate existence of their own.
Regarding these, the command was given that such clothes should be torn, or placed underfoot to show disrespect, or their heads should be cut off so that they resemble trees.
There is also a strict prohibition regarding this type of image.
• The reflection of something appearing on glass is also called an image. When a person stands in front of the glass, the image remains; when the person moves away, the image disappears. There is no warning (wa'id) regarding this; rather, upon seeing it, one is instructed to recite a supplication.

(3)
In the present era, two additional types of images have appeared before us, and their ruling is similar to the aforementioned images.
These images are as follows:
• Images printed on paper, such as various types of photographs published in newspapers and magazines.
The ruling for these images is the same as that for images depicted on cloth in the era of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
• Video images, which are preserved through waves.
There are differing opinions regarding these: some scholars, by analogy with the image on glass, consider them permissible, while others, by grouping them with other images, issue a verdict of prohibition (haram) regarding them.
According to our inclination, video images fall under the same ruling as images made on cloth, because they are preserved and can be viewed whenever needed. To close the door to tribulation (fitnah), it is more appropriate to declare them impermissible (najaa'iz).
And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
The relevance of these hadiths to the chapter heading is as follows: Those who claim that servants are themselves the creators of their actions—if their claim were true, then image-makers would not have been so humiliated and disgraced. The attribution of creation to them is in a mocking sense; in reality, it was their acquisition and action, or, based on their corrupt assumption, the term "creation" was applied. In any case, making images is their deed and action, on the basis of which they have been deemed deserving of punishment, because they made them by their own will and choice, and this was truly their action, which Allah ta‘ala created, for He alone made the way for this action easy for them. Since they used their will in choosing it, they became deserving of punishment.

Extremely Important Note:
During the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), there were three types of images, the details of which are as follows:
➊ There were idols made of wood and stone, which were called "tamsil" (statues). They had bodies and were carved for the purpose of worship. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) ordered that this type of statue be destroyed.
➋ There were images depicted on clothes. They had no separate existence. Regarding them, the command was given that such clothes should be torn, or they should be spread on the ground to dishonor them, or their heads should be cut off and made like trees. In any case, there is also a strict prohibition regarding this type of image.
➌ The reflection of something would appear on glass, and this too was called an image. When a person stood in front of the glass, the image would remain; when he moved away, the image would disappear. There is no warning (wa‘id) regarding this; rather, upon seeing it, one is encouraged to recite a supplication.

In the present era, two more types of images have appeared before us, and their ruling is similar to the rulings of the aforementioned images. These images are:
➊ Images printed on paper, such as photographs published in newspapers. Their ruling is the same as that of images depicted on clothes during the time of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
➋ Video images, which are preserved through waves. Regarding these, scholars have differing opinions. Some, by associating them with the image in glass, establish their permissibility, while others, by associating them with other images, issue a fatwa of prohibition regarding them. According to our inclination, it is appropriate to consider them like images depicted on clothes, because they are preserved and can be viewed whenever needed. To prevent tribulation (fitnah), it is best to declare them impermissible; however, if there is a necessity, a lenient stance can be taken regarding them.

And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: Creating life in an inanimate image or statue, or granting it life, is not possible for a human being. Therefore, the purpose here is rebuke, reprimand, and the prolongation of punishment. For this reason, in some narrations, it is explicitly stated that he will not be able to create life in them, or he will not be able to blow a soul into them.

“And it will be said”—as if there will be punishment besides this as well. And this statement itself will be a separate punishment.