Consensus
I was told by a scholar that some sahaba and tabieen had the opinion that the verse ‘and stay in your houses’ only applies to the wives of the Prophet SAW. I know you said that it is wrong to claim that this verse is only limited to the wives of the Prophet SAW. But my question is did some sahaba, tabieen or tabi at tabieen have this opinion?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Glad to see your interest in the Holy Quran. May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala illuminate our hearts and life through it.
This verse is addressed to the blessed wives of the Prophet (ﷺ), but saying that does not negate its applicability as a recommendation to other women.
We are not aware of any reputable orthodox scholar who has explicitly denied the fact that this teaching applies to all women.
On the contrary there is evidence which corroborates that this teaching is also applicable to other Muslim women. There are ahadith which say this about women in general:
لا تمنعوا نساءكم المساجد وبيوتهن خير لهن
Do not prevent your women from visiting the mosque; but their houses are better for them
— Abu Dawud
The ruling of this verse is not absolute, rather there are obviously situations when a woman is allowed to go out such as to fulfill her essential needs, or to meet her parents, or to fulfill her religious obligations, or to go and earn when the husband is poor and unable to provide for her, or for fear of death or harm such as if her house is on fire or about to collapse etc.
As leaders and role models of the Muslim women the blessed wives of the Prophet salalahu alaihi wa sallam were inspired to be the best in deeds and to be akhirah oriented so as to inspire other women. Although these injunctions are obligatory for all Muslim women but in consonance with the added dignity and sanctity of the blessed wives and household of the Prophet salallahu alaihi wa sallam, a highest level of adherence was demanded to earn double reward.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best