In Islam, the fashioning of idols, images, pictures etc. are condemned. And according to the ahadith, Allah on the day of judgment will demand of all those who made such images to breathe a soul/life into these idols/pictures, something that they won’t be able to do:
Ibn ‘Umar reported Allah’s Messenger having said: Those who paint pictures would be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it would be said to them: Breathe soul into what you have created. (Sahih Muslim, Book 024, Number 5268 https://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=024&translator=2&start=0&number=5268)
24 The Book on Clothing
(19) Chapter: What Has Been Related About Imagemakers
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:
That the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever fashions an image, he will be punished by Allah until he breathes into it – meaning the soul – and he cannot breath (a soul) into it. And whoever listens to a people’s conversation, while they have gone away from him for it, then He will have lead poured into his ears on the Day of Judgement.” He said: There are narrations on this topic from ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud, Abu Hurairah, Abu Juhaifah, ‘Aishah, and Ibn ‘Umar. [Abu ‘Eisa said:] The Hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas is a Hasan Sahih Hadith.
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1751
In-book reference:
Book 24, Hadith 32
English translation: Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 1751 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:1751; emphasis mine)
48 The Book of Adornment
(113) Chapter: What the Image-Makers Will be Commanded to Do on the Day of Resurrection
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever makes an image will be commanded on the Day of Resurrection to breathe the soul into it but he will not be able to do so.'”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Sunan an-Nasa’i 5360
In-book reference: Book 48, Hadith 321
English translation: Vol. 6, Book 48, Hadith 5362 (sunnah.com https://sunnah.com/nasai:5360; emphasis mine)
This shows that creating and breathing life into images are divine prerogatives and characteristics belonging to God alone.
In fact, this is precisely what the Quran teaches, namely, Allah is the one who gives life to the dead and even fashioned an image of a man from clay and then breathed life into it:
And (remember) when you killed a man and fell into dispute among yourselves as to the crime. But Allah brought forth that which you were hiding. So We said: “Strike him (the dead man) with a piece of it (the cow).” Thus Allah brings the dead to life and shows you His Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) so that you may understand. S. 2:72-73 Hilali-Khan
That is because Allah, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things. And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it, and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves. S. 22:6-7 Hilali-Khan
When thy Lord said to the angels, ‘See, I am creating a mortal of a clay (innee khaliqun basharan min teenin). When I have shaped him, and breathed My spirit in him, fall you down, bowing before him!’ Then the angels bowed themselves all together, save Iblis; he waxed proud, and was one of the unbelievers. Said He, ‘Iblis, what prevented thee to bow thyself before that I created with My own hands? Hast thou waxed proud, or art thou of the lofty ones?’ S. 38:71-75 Arberry
Here is where it gets rathe remarkable.
According to the Muslim scripture, Jesus is the only messenger/prophet said to possess the ability to raise the dead and create images and breathe life into them!
and he shall be a prophet to the people of Israel (saying), that I have come to you, with a sign from God, namely, that I will create for you out of clay (annee akhluqu lakum mina al-teeni) as though it were the form of a bird, and I will blow thereon and it shall become a bird by God’s permission; and I will heal the blind from birth, and lepers; and I will bring the dead to life by God’s permission; and I will tell you what you eat and what ye store up in your houses. Verily, in that is a sign for you if ye be believers. S. 3:49 Palmer
When He shall say: O Jesus! Son of Mary! call to mind my favour upon thee and upon thy mother, when I strengthened thee with the Holy Spirit, that thou shouldest speak to men alike in the cradle, and when grown up; – And when I taught thee the Scripture, and Wisdom, and the Law, and the Evangel: and thou didst create of clay (wa-ith takhluqu mina al-teeni), as it were, the figure of a bird, by my leave, and didst breathe into it, and by my leave it became a bird; and thou didst heal the blind and the leper, by my leave; and when, by my leave, thou didst bring forth the dead; and when I withheld the children of Israel from thee, when thou hadst come to them with clear tokens: and such of them as believed not said, “This is nought but plain sorcery;” S. 5:110 Rodwell
By permitting Jesus to create life exactly like him, and to possess the ability to breathe life/souls into images, Allah has essentially taken Jesus to be his partner in his unique divine characteristics. This basically proves that Allah has appointed Jesus to be his co-Creator and Life-giver!
Hence, the Quran plainly testifies that Jesus is exactly like Allah since it describes him as the Creator who possesses the breath of life, which enables him to create images and breathe souls into them, causing them to become living, animate beings!
FURTHER READING
Quran’s Multiple Creators: More Proof of Islam’s Triadic Deity
THE QURAN CONFIRMS: JESUS IS EXACTLY LIKE ALLAH!
The Quran Testifies: Jesus is the Eternal Creative Word of God
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