Those Addressed in Quran
Imam Ali (AS), in Nahj al-Balagha, has referred to some of their attributes. For example, in Sermon 154, he says: “The delicacies of the Quran are about them and they are the treasurers of Allah.”
The Commander of the Faithful (AS), who was the most outstanding companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), earlier points out who they are: “We are the near ones, companions, treasure holders and doors (to the Sunnah).”
Imam Ali (AS) then refers to their attributes, one of which is that verses of the Quran have been revealed about them.
Although Imam Ali (AS) has somehow explained who those addressed by the Quran are, it can still not be absolutely clear. Maybe the pronoun “we” here refers to the companions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) as Imam Ali (AS) was also a companion of the Prophet (PBUH).
But given the Verse of Tat’hir (Verse 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab) and Hadiths about Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS), one can conclude that Imam Ali (AS) is talking about Ahl-ul-Bayt (AS) in this sermon.
God says in Verse 33 of Surah Al-Ahzab: “People of the house, God wants to remove all kinds of uncleanliness from you and to purify you thoroughly.”
There are Hadiths about this verse that clarify its meaning. For instance, Abdullah ibn Kathir has quoted Imam Sadiq (AS) as saying that this verse is about the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Imam Ali (AS), Hazrat Zahra (SA), Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hussein (AS).
After the demise of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Ali (AS) became Imam, then Imam Hassan (AS) and then Imam Hussein (AS).
Imam Sadiq (AS) then referred to Verse 75 of Surah Al-Anfal “… and the possessors of relationships are nearer to each other in the ordinance of Allah”, saying that after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), Ali ibn Hussein (AS) became Imam and other Imams (AS) are his descendants and that obeying them is obeying God and disobeying them is tantamount to disobeying God.
Therefore, the honored ones addressed by the Quran are the five figures named above.
