Question:

What do the infallibles (a.) say about the formation of the shapes?

Response:

Ja’far As-Sadiq (a.) reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “The Most High appeared to me at that moment in your dwelling in the best shape (surah) and most even form.” [Kamil-uz-Ziyarat by Ibn Qawlawaih, page 147 Hadith 6]

عن جعفر الصادق عليه السلام عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: إن العلي الاعلى تراءى لي في بيتك هذا في ساعتي هذه في أحسن صورة وأهيا هيئة

Ibn Zaid reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “The Messenger (s.) forbade the making of shapes (surah) and said: “Whoever made a shape (surah), God would order him on the Day of Resurrection, to breathe into it, whereas he will not be able to breathe.” He also forbade, to burn anything of a living being and He forbade wearing a ring of gold or iron and He forbade the stamping of anything of a living being on the ring.” [Al-Hada’iq of Al-Bahrani, Volume 18 page 100]

وما رواه الصدوق في بن زيد، عن الصادق عليه السلام، قال: نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم عن التصاوير، وقال: من صور صورة كلفه الله تعالى يوم القيامة أن ينفخ فيها وليس بنافخ، ونهى أن يحرق شئ من الحيوان، ونهى عن التختم بخاتم صفر أو حديد، ونهى أن ينقش شئ من الحيوان على الخاتم

Muhammad ibn Muslim reported that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.): “What about the figures (timthal) of plants, the sun or the moon?” He said: “There is no problem in that, as long as there is nothing of a living being amongst it.” [Makarim-ul-Akhlaq of At-Tabarsi, page 132]

عن محمد بن مسلم قال : سألت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام عن تماثيل الشجر والشمس والقمر؟ قال: لا بأس به ما لم يكن فيه شيء من الحيوان

Abdullah ibn Abbas reported that Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “Whoever formed a shape (Surah), would be punished and he would be ordered to breathe into it, whereas he would not be able to do it.” [Al-Wasa’il of Al-Amili, Volume 17 page 298]

عن عبد الله بن عباس عن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله قال: من صور صورة عذب وكلف أن ينفخ فيها وليس بفاعل

Muhammad ibn Marwan reported that Imam As-Sadiq (a.) said: “Whoever formed a shape (surah) of a living being, he will be punished until he will breath into it, whereas he will not be able to breath into it.” [Al-Khisal of As-Saduq, page 108.]

عن محمد بن مروان عن الإمام الصادق عليه السلام قال: من صور صورة من الحيوان يعذب حتى ينفخ فيها، وليس بنافخ فيها

Comment:

The imam (a) mentions the forming of the shapes, from beings that have a soul like forming statues and dolls and not the drawing, painting or taking pictures.