Who are the despairing?

Qunut with the letter Taa' (قنوط): despair, as in the Almighty’s saying: (So be not of those who despair) [Al-Hijr: 55], meaning: those who are hopeless.

As for Qunut with the letter Ta' (قنوت), as in the Almighty’s saying: (And stand before Allah in humble obedience) [Al-Baqarah: 238], the exegetes differed regarding its meaning. It was said to mean: obedience, and it was said to mean: prolonged standing, and it was said to mean: abstaining from speech.