display yourselves with the display of the former Age of Ignorance; establish the prayer, give the zakat, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah only intends to remove impurity from you, O people of the household, and to purify you completely.” (Al-Ahzab 32–33)

This is an explicit and unmistakably clear proof that the wives of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are included among his household, contrary to the Rāfiḍah, who claim that the Prophet’s wives are not part of his household. His wives are, beyond any doubt, members of his household.

The believing members of the Messenger’s household enjoy two rights over us: the right of faith and the right of kinship with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Moreover, the wives of the Messenger ﷺ are the Mothers of the Believers, as Allah the Exalted states: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.” (Al-Ahzab 6)

Therefore, the Prophet’s wives are mothers to the believers—this is unanimously agreed upon. Whoever says, “ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is not a mother to me,” is not counted among the believers, for Allah has said: “The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers.” Whoever denies that ʿĀʾishah (may Allah be pleased with her) is a mother of the believers is therefore no believer—neither in the Quran nor in the Messenger ﷺ.

How astonishing that some people malign ʿĀʾishah, revile her, and despise her, even though she was the dearest of the Prophet’s wives to him ﷺ; he loved none of his wives as he loved her. It is authentically reported in al-Bukhari that it was said: “Messenger of Allah, who is the most beloved of people to you?” He replied, “ʿĀʾishah.” They asked, “And among the men?” He said