Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—also said:

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The best women of this community are “Khadījah,” “‘Ā’ishah,” and “Fātimah.” There is disagreement over their relative superiority, and the matter involves distinctions that this is not the place to discuss. Khadījah and ‘Ā’ishah were among his wives.

If, on this basis, it is said that his “wives,” taken collectively, are superior to his “daughters,” taken collectively, that is correct: his wives were more numerous, and there were more women of distinction among them than among his daughters.