The pronoun in their stories refers to the messengers. It is supported by the reading of those who recited 'in their stories' with a broken qaf. It was said: it refers back to Joseph and his brothers. If you say: to what does the pronoun in 'what was a tale being fabricated' refer for those who read with the broken qaf? I say: it refers to the Qur'an, meaning: what was the Qur'an a tale being fabricated, but it was a confirmation of what was before it, meaning the previous heavenly books, and a detailed account of everything needed in religion. This is because it is the law upon which the Sunnah, consensus, and analogy rely after the proofs of reason. The accusative 'what' is placed after 'but' to coordinate with the news of 'was'. And 'that' was read in the nominative as: but it is a confirmation of what is before it. From the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him: Teach your servants Surah Yusuf, for any Muslim who recites it and teaches it to his family and those whom his right hand possesses, Allah will ease for him the pangs of death and grant him the strength not to envy a Muslim. [Its chain of narration has been mentioned in the tafsir of Al-Imran and is also found at the end of Al-Imran, and at the end of the book as well.]