Ansab (stone markers set up for worship, and the rulings on them)

Ansab is the plural of nasb: stones set up around the Ka'ba, at which the pilgrims called out and on which offerings were slaughtered for other than God. Some say it is anything worshipped apart from God. ¹

• Asnam (idols): carved or shaped images, or stones, wood, silver or bronze, and on another view images of animals. ¹²
• The difference: idols are carved and painted, while ansab are standing stones. On another view ansab and awthan are alike in being unshaped. ²
• Tamathil (images): shaped likenesses in stone or other material, whether worshipped or not. ²

The markers of the sanctuary (haram) are standing stones set up on its sides to show its bounds; they carry no sanctity or worship, unlike the stones of the unbelievers. ²

• Slaughter on ansab was a practice of the pre-Islamic period, and the Qur'an declares what is slaughtered on the nasb forbidden (sura al-Ma'ida, 5:3). ²
• The jurists agree that making a shaped image of a human or animal is forbidden, and that a fee for making it is not allowed. ³
• Selling and keeping idols is forbidden, as the sound hadith on forbidding their sale shows. ³