the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—cursed the image-makers and said,

“The people who will be punished most severely on the Day of Resurrection are the image-makers.”

The third angle:
Allah informed the Messiah that he had only fashioned those images and breathed into them by His leave, and the Messiah, peace be upon him, likewise declared that he performed these acts by Allah’s leave. Allah also stated that this was one of the favors He had bestowed upon the Messiah, peace be upon him, as He, Exalted is He, said:

“He is nothing but a servant upon whom We bestowed favor, and We made him an example for the Children of Israel.” ⦗Al-Zuhruf 59⦘

And He, Exalted be He, said:

“O Jesus, son of Mary, remember My favor upon you and upon your mother: how I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit so that you spoke to people in the cradle and in maturity; how I taught you the Scripture and wisdom, the Torah and the Gospel; how you fashioned out of clay the likeness of a bird—by My permission—then breathed into it so that it became a bird—by My permission; how you healed the congenitally blind and the leper—by My permission; how you brought the dead to life—by My permission; and how I held back the Children of Israel from you when you came to them with clear proofs.” ⦗Al-Ma’idah 110⦘