May be they were self-proclaimed, or God sent. It really depends on your belief system.
Hagar/Bib Hajra pbuh will get respect in your eyes if you think Abrahim was Godly man, intellectual, etc. But if you hate the very guts of him or simply declare him “self-proclaimed” etc., then you are wasting your time in this thread.
Similarly those who respect Jesus / Eesah / Messiah pbuh, then they won’t throw proverbial rocks at Mary Magdalene (may peace be upon her).
Similarly those who respect Mohammad pbuh, won’t throw rocks at Aysha pbuh.
The idea is that “if you respect an intellectual”, then just respect his immediate family unless these family members commit a crime.
That’s all.