What does « Qniṭ » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Qniṭ (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
Qniṭ
Root: ق - ن - ط
Jurisprudence (fiqh) 6 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 2 min read

Definition of Qniṭ

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).

Qniṭ 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.

Words from the same root as Qniṭ

بطن
Baṭn
خنق
Khnaqa
ذقن
Dhaqan
سقط
Sqiṭ
شطن
Shaṭana
طبق
Ṭbaq
طرق
Ṭraq
طعن
Ṭaʿn

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إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ وَمَلَٰٓئِكَتَهُۥ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى ٱلنَّبِىِّ ۚ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ صَلُّوا۟ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا۟ تَسْلِيمًا

God and His angels shower their blessings on the Prophet. O believers, you should also send your blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.

Al-Ahzab 33:56

Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ