Transliteration:( Wa laqad jaaa'akum Yoosufu min qablu bil baiyinaati famaa ziltum fee shakkim mimmaa jaaa'akum bihee hattaaa izaa halaka qultum lai yab asal laahu mim ba'dihee Rasoolaa; kazaalika yudillul laahu man huwa Musrifum murtaab )
"And certainly Yusuf came to you before [88] this with clear [89] arguments, but you remained in doubt [90] about that (message) which he brought to you, until he passed away, and you said: 'Never shall Allah send [91] any Messenger after him.' Thus Allah leaves such ones to go on the wrong way, who become transgressors [92], and remain in doubt."
Nearly 900 years before Musa, Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) came to the ancestors of the Egyptians preaching the Oneness of Allah. According to Tafseer Roohul Ma’ani, Pharaoh lived over 400 years, and the impact of Yusuf’s teachings still lingered in Egypt at the time of Musa. This is why the believing man in Pharaoh’s court referred to Yusuf’s legacy while reminding them of the truth.
Yusuf brought bright signs, such as:
Interpreting dreams accurately
Speaking as an infant
Administering the state without formal training
These were clear miracles, yet people failed to embrace his message. The believing man highlighted these as part of his rational appeal to Pharaoh’s people.
Although people accused Yusuf of being a magician or pet, they remained in doubt and never decisively accepted his prophethood. They neither fully denied nor genuinely believed—this indecisiveness is a hallmark of those resisting truth even after witnessing clear evidence.
After Yusuf’s death, the people claimed no prophet would come after him, which was not only a denial of Yusuf’s prophethood but also an excuse to reject any future messengers like Musa. Their stance reflected arrogant finality, not faith.
True believers, however, accept all Prophets—those of the past, present, and future. To believe in Prophet Muhammad ﷺ today also entails affirming the truth of all previous messengers.
This verse concludes by affirming that those who try to falsify Prophets are left by Allah to stray further, due to their own transgression and rebellion. Such people are denied true guidance, and their hearts remain clouded with doubt. Rejecting Prophethood, especially after clear evidence, is a sign of wilful misguidance.
The tafsir of Surah Muminun verse 34 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Muminun ayat 30 which provides the complete commentary from verse 30 through 35.
(40:34) Verily Joseph came to you with Clear Signs before, yet you continued to doubt his Message. Thereafter when he died, you said: ‘Allah shall send no Messenger after him.'”[51] Thus Allah leads astray those who transgress the limits and are given to much doubting;
51. That is, your deviation, and then your stubbornness, is such that before Moses (peace be upon him), there came in your land the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) about whom you yourselves admit that he was a man of the highest morals, and you also admit that by giving the right interpretation of the king’s dream he saved you from the dreadful effects of the seven year long famine, which had struck Egypt in his time, and your entire nation also acknowledges that Egypt has never witnessed a period of greater justice and prosperity than the period of his rule. But in spite of knowing and recognizing all his merits and high qualities you did not believe in him during his life time, and when he died, you said: Never will the like of him came again! That is, you recognized his excellences only for an excuse to deny every prophet who came after him. This means that you would not accept guidance in any case.
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