What is the difference between idols (asnam) and effigies/idols (awthan)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
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.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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