Tafsir of Yusuf 12:7

(Indeed, there was in Yusuf and his brothers) — that is, in their stories. The apparent meaning is that the "brothers" here are the same as those mentioned previously. A group has held that those referred to there were his half-brothers, though it is permissible that what is meant by them here includes those who were full brothers as well, since Benjamin also has a share in the story. However, this is rendered unlikely by the subsequent verse: "(They said)," as has been stated.

(Signs) — meaning tokens of great significance, indicating the greatness of Allah Almighty’s overwhelming power and His dazzling wisdom.

(For the inquirers) — that is, for everyone who inquired about their story and learned of it, or for those who seek signs and derive lessons from them. For they are those who pause to reflect upon them and benefit from them, unlike others who fall under the words of the Almighty: "And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth do they pass by, while they are averse to them."

Thus, what is meant by "the story" is the narrated account itself, or it refers to his—peace and blessings be upon him—prophethood, as the people asked him about their story (as you have learned in the explanation of the reason for the revelation). Consequently, he—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—informed them of it exactly as it happened, without having heard it from anyone or read it in a book; hence, what is meant by "the story" is the act of narrating it.

The pluralization of "signs" in this instance is said to be for the purpose of signaling that the narration of each segment of the story constitutes a clear sign, sufficient in proving his—may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him—prophethood. Others have said it is due to the multiplicity of aspects of inimitability, both in wording and in meaning.

Some eminent scholars have claimed that the word "sign" here is a case of iktifa (elliptical sufficiency), and that the intent is "signs" for those who ask and for those who do not ask. A parallel to this is His—Glory be to Him—saying: "Equal for the inquirers." This is rendered acceptable due to the strength of the discourse's indication of the omitted portion.

Ibn Atiyyah said: The intent of "the inquirers" is all people, but the expression was avoided [using a general term] to incite the learning of such a story, because of the profound lessons it contains. Both statements, however, are not without a degree of remoteness.

The people of Mecca, Ibn Kathir, and Mujahid read it as "sign" (ayah) in the singular form, and in the codex of Ubayy it is written as "a lesson for the inquirers."