Does the Hadith, "O Allah, these are the people of my Household, so remove from them defilement and purify them with a thorough purification," exclude the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) from being among the people of the Household?

Our website has favored the view that the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are included in the term "Ahl al-Bayt" (People of the House) mentioned in the Holy Quran. This is based on the context of the noble verses in Surat Al-Ahzab, which begin and end by addressing the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and Allah’s saying: (O wives of the Prophet, you are not like any other women. If you fear Allah, then do not be soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is disease should covet, but speak with appropriate speech. And abide in your houses and do not display yourselves as [was] the display of the [former] times of ignorance. And establish prayer and give zakat and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah wishes only to remove from you the impurity, O people of the [Prophet's] household, and to purify you with [complete] purification. And remember what is recited in your houses of the verses of Allah and wisdom. Indeed, Allah is ever subtle and Acquainted [with all things].) Al-Ahzab/32-34.

As for the argument derived from the Hadith of Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), which suggests that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not include her under the cloak, it is countered by stating that this is an strained interpretation and contradicts the apparent meaning of the verses. It is argued that the masculine pronoun in (عنكم - from you) refers to the grammatical dominance of males over females in the Arabic language and does not exclude women. Furthermore, the Ahadith that deny Umm Salamah's inclusion are weak, while those that affirm her inclusion are stronger. This Hadith may also carry other meanings that do not negate the fact that the Mothers of the Believers are part of Ahl al-Bayt; rather, it confirms that purification includes everyone.