What does « Despair » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Despair (بلس) in the Quran, with 5 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

بلس

Despair

Root: ب - ل - س

Jurisprudence (fiqh) 5 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Despair

Al-iblâs (despair): losing all hope.

Ablasa: he despaired.

Allah says: 'And that Day the criminals will despair (yublisu)' (Ar-Rûm: 12).

Iblîs: the devil, so named because he despaired of Allah's mercy.

Despair in the Quran (5)

Meccan: 5 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Ar-Rum 2

Al-An'am 1

Al-Mu'minun 1

Az-Zukhruf 1

Surah Al-An'am : 44 Meccan

﴿فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَٰبَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَرِحُوا۟ بِمَآ أُوتُوٓا۟ أَخَذْنَٰهُم بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُم مُّبْلِسُونَ﴾

So when they forgot that by which they had been reminded, We opened to them the doors of every [good] thing until, when they rejoiced in that which they were given, We seized them suddenly, and they were [then] in despair.

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 77 Meccan

﴿حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِم بَابًا ذَا عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ إِذَا هُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ﴾

Until when We have opened before them a door of severe punishment, immediately they will be therein in despair.

Surah Ar-Rum : 12 Meccan

﴿وَيَوْمَ تَقُومُ ٱلسَّاعَةُ يُبْلِسُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ﴾

And the Day the Hour appears the criminals will be in despair.

Surah Ar-Rum : 49 Meccan

﴿وَإِن كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن قَبْلِهِۦ لَمُبْلِسِينَ﴾

Although they were, before it was sent down upon them - before that, in despair.

Surah Az-Zukhruf : 75 Meccan

﴿لَا يُفَتَّرُ عَنْهُمْ وَهُمْ فِيهِ مُبْلِسُونَ﴾

It will not be allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair.