So this topic was a point of dispute among the companions. But naturally, the authority belonged to the "Muqassirah" (detractors), the "Mu'attilah" (those who negate attributes), and the knowledge of the "Muwahhidin" (Unitarians) (the "Ghulat" / extremists) was concealed due to dissimulation and fear of oppression. For we have the explanation of these reports that allude to the concept of the Image and the Body (may my Lord be exalted above images, bodies, outlines, and forms).
Our Master Abu 'Abdillah Assadiq (may his glory be exalted) said: "While the Messenger of God was in the house of Fatima, with al-Hasan and al-Husayn (may their glory be exalted) in his lap, he suddenly wept and fell into prostration. Then he said: 'O Fatima, O daughter of Muhammad! Indeed, the Most High, the Most Exalted appeared to me in this house of yours, at this very hour, in the most beautiful image and the most comely form, and said to me: "O Muhammad, do you love al-Husayn?!"'"1
"Appeared to me in the most beautiful image!!! And the most comely form!!"
An image and a form : How will the "detractors" object to this report? Is it dissimulation and in agreement with the "common people"? Or is its chain of transmission weak according to the opinion of Ibn al-Ghada'iri!!
Or will they resort to al-Majlisi, the commentator of reports and traditions, who considers "the Most High, the All-Powerful" in this Hadith to be Jibra'il (Gabriel)!
Glory be to You, O 'Ali, O Great One! They want to extinguish Your light by any means.
From Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Hamdani, he said: I wrote to the Man, meaning our Master Abu al-Hasan al-Rida (may his glory be exalted): "Those before us from your loyal followers have differed regarding Tawhid. Some of them say 'Body,' and some of them say 'Image.'" So he wrote in his own hand: "Glory be to Him Who is not defined and not described. There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing."2
If you notice, my believing brother, the Master al-Rida (may his glory be exalted) did not negate the concept of the "al-anzʿiyya" Image. Rather (may His highness be exalted), he transcended the Creator from the saying of the anthropomorphists (may God condemn them) from the "Nawasib" (enemies) and those who resemble them.