{And Yoosuf had already come to you with clear proofs} [Quran 40:33-35]
14-12-2014 | IslamWeb
Question:
Aslamualakaum In surah 40 veres 33-35 what Yusif, is Allah reffering to. Is it the Prophet Yusif (as) becuse i though he lived ages before that pharoh, when they reffered to pharos as kings, i seen people saying diffrent things, suchas it reffers to his grandson or the Prophet yusif (as) lived until that time, or that it refers to the pharos forfathers and the prevous eygptian nation. Can you please explain. Jazkullah kayir. Also is this counted as unclear veres.
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
This verse is not among the unclear verses, and what is meant by Yoosuf (Joseph) here is Prophet Yoosuf, son of Ya‘qoob (Jacob), may Allaah exalt their mention, according to the preponderant opinion of the scholars. The Tafseer of Ibn Al-Jawzi, reads: “The verse, {And Yoosuf had already come to you} [Quran 40:33], refers to Yoosuf, son of Ya‘qoob, and it was said that it was not him, but this second opinion is not substantial. The word {already} means before Moosa (Moses); {with clear proofs} i.e. indications of Tawheed like Yoosuf's words, {O [my] two companions of prison, are separate lords better or Allaah, the One, the Prevailing?} [Quran 12:39]; Ibn As-Saa’ib said: {with clear proofs} means the interpretation of dreams and the tearing of his shirt.” [End of quote]
The Tafseer of Al-Qurtubi (15/312) reads: “The verse: {And Yoosuf had already come to you with clear proofs}; it was said that this was a statement by Moosa, and it was also said that it was part of the admonition of the believing man from the family of Pharaoh who reminded them of their ancient disdain from obeying the Prophets, and he was referring to Yoosuf son of Ya‘qoob; {come to you with clear proofs} [means with the following statement,] {are separate lords better or Allaah, the One, the Prevailing?} [Quran 12:39]; Ibn Jurayj said: ‘It was Yoosuf, son of Ya‘qoob, whom Allaah had sent as a Messenger to the Copts (Egyptians) after the King’s death before (the time of) Moses, with clear proofs, namely, truthful dreams. Ibn ‘Abbaas said: It was Yusuf ibn Ephraim ibn Yoosuf ibn Ya‘qoob.” [End of quote]
The verse, {And Yoosuf had already come to you}, meaning he came to their ancestors before them; Ibn ‘Aashoor said in his Tafseer: “He rebuked the lack of effect that the advice had on them and that they were determined to disbelieve in Moosa, so he escalated in his admonition to the point of blaming them about what had happened before, and of reminding them that they were descendants of people who disbelieved in Yoosuf when he came to them with clear proofs. The disbelief in those who guided them to the truth was a known attitude of their ancestors so it is one of their characteristics.”
Allaah Knows best.