The Semantics of the Words "Yaʿūs" and "Qanūṭ" in the 49th of Fuṣṣilat and Offering an Appropriate Meaning with Regard to Context of the Verse

The words "yaʿūs" and "qanūṭ" are among the words that are used simultaneously in a verse and are considered synonymous by most translators. The word "yaʿūs" has been derived from "ays" that means to exist and find, and its connection with despair in a negative direction and in opposition to its root is that the despairing person thinks that what is desirable does not exist and cannot be found. The word "qanūṭ" from "qanṭ" basically means to cut, and in the Qurchr('39')an it means despair, appearance of despair in the face, sorrow and prohibition. In the 49th of Fuṣṣilat it means to prevent, and the reason lies in what said by the earlier lexicographers, as well as their being connected by the conjunctive "و". On this basis, the meaning of the verse is that man does not get tired of praying for good, and if evil befalls him, he becomes disappointed and, thereof, he stops praying. Among translators, Dehlavi and Behboodi have provided relatively good translations. They considered qanūṭ to mean the cessation of greed. It seems that such translations as "He is disappointed, He is very disappointed, and…" fail to turn the word of God; Because God has brought two news in the word and the translator must convey the two to the audience.