Wives of the Prophet like Mothers

The Quran has two kinds of verses. Straightforward (muḥ’kamātun) verses, constituting the foundation of the Quran, as well as multi-meaning or figurative (mutashābihātun) verses.

[3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses—which constitute the essence of the scripture—as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion, and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, “We believe in this—all of it comes from our Lord.” Only those who possess intelligence will take heed.

 هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِنْهُ ءَايَـٰتٌ مُّحْكَمَـٰتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَـٰبِهَـٰتٌ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَـٰبَهَ مِنْهُ ٱبْتِغَآءَ ٱلْفِتْنَةِ وَٱبْتِغَآءَ تَأْوِيلِهِۦ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُۥٓ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱلرَّٰسِخُونَ فِى ٱلْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءَامَنَّا بِهِۦ كُلٌّ مِّنْ عِندِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّآ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ

An example of a multi-meaning verse is the following.

[33:6] The prophet is closer to the believers than they are to each other, and his wives are like mothers to them. The relatives ought to take care of one another in accordance with GOD’s scripture. Thus, the believers shall take care of their relatives who immigrate to them, provided they have taken care of their own families first. These are commandments of this scripture.

 ٱلنَّبِىُّ أَوْلَىٰ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُهَـٰجِرِينَ إِلَّآ أَن تَفْعَلُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰٓ أَوْلِيَآئِكُم مَّعْرُوفًا كَانَ ذَٰلِكَ فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مَسْطُورًا

1	al-nabiyu	ٱلنَّبِىُّ	The prophet (is)
2	awlā	أَوْلَىٰ	nearer / dearer / closer
3	bil-mu’minīna	بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ	to the believers
4	min	مِنْ	than
5	anfusihim	أَنفُسِهِمْ	their own selves,
6	wa-azwājuhu	وَأَزْوَٰجُهُۥٓ	and his wives (are)
7	ummahātuhum	أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ	(like) their mothers.

If one was to read this verse literally, one could understand this to mean that the prophet’s wives were the genetic mothers of the believers. Obviously, this verse implies the closeness of the prophet’s wives to the believers and is not meant to infer that they were their actual mothers. This is why the word “like” is used in the translation.

The Quran is very clear that motherhood requires a genetic relationship.

[58:2] Those among you who estrange their wives (by declaring them as forbidden in sex) as their mothers know full well that they are not their mothers. Their mothers are the women who gave birth to them. Indeed, they are committing a blasphemy and a falsehood. GOD is Pardoner, Forgiver.

 ٱلَّذِينَ يُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِهِم مَّا هُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِهِمْ إِنْ أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ إِلَّا ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى وَلَدْنَهُمْ وَإِنَّهُمْ لَيَقُولُونَ مُنكَرًا مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ وَزُورًا وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ

9	in	إِنْ	Not
10	ummahātuhum	أُمَّهَـٰتُهُمْ	their mothers
11	illā	إِلَّا	except
12	allāī	ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى	those who
13	waladnahum	وَلَدْنَهُمْ	they gave birth to them

We actually see this concept confirmed just two verses before calling the prophet’s wives as mothers to the believers.

[33:4] GOD did not give any man two hearts in his chest. Nor did He turn your wives whom you estrange (according to your custom) into your mothers. Nor did He turn your adopted children into genetic offspring. All these are mere utterances that you have invented. GOD speaks the truth, and He guides in the (right) path.

 مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ مِّن قَلْبَيْنِ فِى جَوْفِهِۦ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَزْوَٰجَكُمُ ٱلَّـٰٓـِٔى تُظَـٰهِرُونَ مِنْهُنَّ أُمَّهَـٰتِكُمْ وَمَا جَعَلَ أَدْعِيَآءَكُمْ أَبْنَآءَكُمْ ذَٰلِكُمْ قَوْلُكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِكُمْ وَٱللَّهُ يَقُولُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَهُوَ يَهْدِى ٱلسَّبِيلَ

So because of this, it would be wrong to call the prophet’s wives the mothers of the believers, because the term in verse 33:6 is only meant to symbolize their closeness to the believers and not their genetic relationship.

Additionally, if one was to imply that the wives of the prophet were the mothers of the believers, then it would also imply that the prophet was the father of the believers, yet the following verse confirms this is not the case.

[33:40] Muhammad was not the father of any man among you. He was a messenger of GOD and the final prophet. GOD is fully aware of all things.

 مَّا كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَآ أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن رَّسُولَ ٱللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمًا

1	mā	مَّا	Not
2	kāna	كَانَ	[he] was
3	muḥammadun	مُحَمَّدٌ	Muhammad
4	abā	أَبَآ	(the) father
5	aḥadin	أَحَدٍ	(of) anyone
6	min	مِّن	of
7	rijālikum	رِّجَالِكُمْ	your men