What is the difference between idols (asnam) and effigies/idols (awthan)?

Linguists differ regarding a distinction between sanam (idol) and wathan (idol/fetish). Ibn Manzur believes they are synonyms, while Ibn Sidah holds that a sanam is carved and fashioned. Abu al-Abbas and Ibn al-A'rabi are of the view that sanam refers to an image that is worshipped.

As for Ibn Arafa, he maintains that a wathan is that which has no form, whereas a sanam is that which has a form.

However, from a legal (Shari'ah) perspective, there is no difference between them. Anything worshipped besides Allah Almighty is considered both a sanam and a wathan.