I entered the house of Marwan with Abu Hurairah and saw images inside it. Abu Hurairah said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say that Allah said, 'Who is more unjust than one who sets out to create something like My creation? Let them create an ant, or let them create a grain, or let them create a barley seed.'"
دخلت مع أبي هريرة في دار مروان فرأى فيها تصاوير، فقال: سمعت رسول الله ﷺ يقول: قال الله عز وجل: ومن أظلم ممن ذهب يخلق خلقا كخلقي؟ فليخلقوا ذرة، أو ليخلقوا حبة أو ليخلقوا شعيرة.
Bukhari narrated it in the Book of Clothing (5953), and Muslim in the Book of Clothing (2111), both through the route of Umara bin Qaqa, who said, Abu Zura narrated to us, and then he mentioned it. The wording given here is Muslim's.His statement, "Let them create an atom's worth... etc." is a command meant to demonstrate impossibility. Nawawi said, "Its meaning is, let them create an atom containing a spirit that moves on its own, like this atom which is a creation of Allah, the Exalted. Likewise, let them create a grain of wheat or barley, meaning, let them create a grain that has a taste that can be eaten, that can be planted and will sprout, and in which is found what is found in a grain of wheat or barley or the like, of the grain that Allah, the Exalted, creates. This is a command meant to demonstrate impossibility."