What does « Despair » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Despair (قنط) in the Quran, with 6 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

قنط

Despair

Root: ق - ن - ط

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Despair

Al-Qunūṭ refers to extreme despair.

The Almighty says: 'And do not despair of the mercy of Allah' (Yusuf 87).

Al-qāniṭ is one who has lost all hope.

The Almighty says: 'Do not despair of the mercy of Allah' (Az-Zumar 53).

Despair in the Quran (6)

Meccan: 6 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Hijr 2

Ar-Rum 1

Az-Zumar 1

Fussilat 1

Ash-Shura 1

Surah Al-Hijr : 55 Meccan

﴿قَالُوا۟ بَشَّرْنَٰكَ بِٱلْحَقِّ فَلَا تَكُن مِّنَ ٱلْقَٰنِطِينَ﴾

They said, "We have given you good tidings in truth, so do not be of the despairing."

Surah Al-Hijr : 56 Meccan

﴿قَالَ وَمَن يَقْنَطُ مِن رَّحْمَةِ رَبِّهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ﴾

He said, "And who despairs of the mercy of his Lord except for those astray?"

Surah Ar-Rum : 36 Meccan

﴿وَإِذَآ أَذَقْنَا ٱلنَّاسَ رَحْمَةً فَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ إِذَا هُمْ يَقْنَطُونَ﴾

And when We let the people taste mercy, they rejoice therein, but if evil afflicts them for what their hands have put forth, immediately they despair.

Surah Az-Zumar : 53 Meccan

﴿قُلْ يَٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ﴾

Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."

Surah Fussilat : 49 Meccan

﴿لَّا يَسْـَٔمُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِن دُعَآءِ ٱلْخَيْرِ وَإِن مَّسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَيَـُٔوسٌ قَنُوطٌ﴾

Man is not weary of supplication for good [things], but if evil touches him, he is hopeless and despairing.

Surah Ash-Shura : 28 Meccan

﴿وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُنَزِّلُ ٱلْغَيْثَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوا۟ وَيَنشُرُ رَحْمَتَهُۥ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَلِىُّ ٱلْحَمِيدُ﴾

And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.