in an authentic report from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that he said:
“Many men have attained perfection, but only a few women have attained it—either two or four.”
Most of his wives are not among those few. The hadiths establishing the superiority of the Companions, such as his saying, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:
“If I were to take an intimate friend from among the people of the earth, I would take Abū Bakr as an intimate friend,”
indicate that no one on earth, whether man or woman, is superior to Abū Bakr in his estimation. Likewise, it is authentically reported that ‘Alī said: “The best of this nation after its Prophet is Abū Bakr, then ‘Umar.” Other texts also establish this, but there is not enough space here to cite them.
In short, this is an anomalous view that none of the early generations held. Despite Abū Muhammad’s extensive knowledge, profound learning, and the immensely valuable insights he offers, some of his objectionable, anomalous opinions are as astonishing as his excellent and outstanding views. Examples include his assertions that Mary was a prophetess, that Āsiyah was a prophetess, and that the mother of Moses was a prophetess.
Judge Abū Bakr, Judge Abū Ya‘lā, Abū al-Ma‘ālī, and others have reported a consensus that no woman has been a prophetess. The Quran and Sunnah both indicate this, as in His words:
“We sent before you only men, to whom We revealed, from among the people of the towns.”
And His words:
“The Messiah, son of Mary, was only a messenger; messengers had passed away before him. His mother was a woman of consummate truthfulness.”
He stated that the highest rank his mother attained was that of consummate truthfulness. This has been discussed at length elsewhere.