What is the ruling on creating images of living beings, possessing them, and keeping them, and what are the images that prevent angels from entering [a house]?

The opinions of scholars differ regarding the ruling on making images of animate beings. Some prohibited images that cast a shadow, while others prohibited images that cast a shadow and those that do not. As for possessing images, scholars permitted images that are debased by being stepped or leaned upon, and images that are headless, or from which something essential for life has been removed. As for the images that prevent the entry of angels, the majority opinion is that these are only the prohibited images, and not all images.