Refuting the claim that the images prohibited in the texts are statues, and interpreting the hadiths accordingly.

The Shaykh : Therefore, if you read or hear that these hadiths, which contain this severe warning against image-making, are intended to refer to those who used to make idols that were worshipped instead of Allah; interpreting the hadith as referring to these statues is invalid. This is because the Messenger (peace be upon him) was only referring to the images that were in the curtain of Lady Aisha. We know necessarily that these images, first, were not three-dimensional idols, and second, Lady Aisha did not bring this curtain with images in it to venerate it or worship it instead of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), far be it from her to do so. Thus, interpreting these hadiths and applying them to the idols that were worshipped instead of Allah leads to the result that the time for the forbidden image-making has ended, as some people explicitly say this, that its time has ended because this prohibition was like an aid to eliminating shirk (associating partners with Allah) and idolatry, and the matter of shirk and idolatry has ended. Therefore, dealing with images, especially if they are not three-dimensional, is permissible according to those who interpret the hadiths with meanings that the hadiths indicate are contrary to, as you heard in the story of Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that you just heard.
In another narration from Lady Aisha, which appears to be a different story, because this narration states that she bought a mattress, which is a cushion. The first story, in its two narrations, revolves around the curtain. So, in that story, the Messenger (peace be upon him) disapproved of the images while they were on the curtain, and to confirm the prohibition of using them, he tore the curtain, as you heard. Now, another story tells that Lady Aisha bought a mattress, which is a cushion, and you notice something in the following story that allows us to explain a part of the previous story. In that previous story, you heard that after the Messenger (peace be upon him) tore the curtain, what did Lady Aisha do with the curtain? She cut it and made two cushions from it; that is, two mattresses. Here, some people say that the images were visible on the two cushions that Lady Aisha made from the curtain that the Messenger (peace be upon him) tore. If we accept this interpretation—that is, the images were visible on the cushions—we say: this could have been before the following story in which the Messenger (peace be upon him) disapproved of Lady Aisha buying the mattress with images on it. How can we reconcile the Messenger's (peace be upon him) approval of the two cushions with images on them, according to this interpretation that some people make, with the Messenger's (peace be upon him) disapproval of Lady Aisha when she bought the mattress with images on it, as you will see?
If we accept that the images were visible on the cushions, and this is contrary to what appears to us because it was cut up, we say: this was a stage in the gradual legislation. When he tore the curtain, he disapproved of hanging images. When she made cushions from the curtain with images on them, he initially approved of that, as a matter of discussion. Then, in another stage, he also disapproved of the images on the cushion. The result of this is that it is not permissible to have an image in the house, whether it is hanging—that is, respected—or it is stepped on—that is, humiliated; there is no difference at that time. Just as the hanging one is prohibited, the one stepped on by feet is prohibited, as evidenced by the following story of Aisha.