Rabbana Ma Khalaqta Hadza Bathila is a short, powerful dua from the closing verses of Surah Ali Imran (Quran 3:191). In English it means, “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You — then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” It is the supplication of those who reflect on the heavens and earth and conclude that nothing in creation is purposeless.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited the last ten verses of Surah Ali Imran — which contain this dua — when he woke for tahajjud, the night prayer, as recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 4569. This guide covers the full Arabic text, transliteration, meaning, tafsir of the word bathila, the paired ayah 3:190, the hadith context, and exactly when to make this dua part of your daily worship.
What Does Rabbana Ma Khalaqta Hadza Bathila Mean?
The dua translates as: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You — then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Sahih International). The phrase “hadza bathila” (this in vain) refers to the heavens, the earth, and everything between them — the believer affirms that creation has purpose, glorifies Allah for that purpose, and immediately asks for protection from the Fire.
The dua has three movements in a single breath. First, an affirmation: Allah did not create anything aimlessly. Second, an act of glorification: subhanaka — far exalted are You above creating without purpose. Third, a direct request: protect us from the Fire. This is the supplication of people of understanding (ulil-albab) who think deeply about creation and then turn that reflection into worship.
Key takeaways:
- Full dua: Rabbana ma khalaqta hadza bathila, subhanaka faqina ‘adhab an-nar.
- Source: Quran 3:191 — the closing portion of the last ten verses of Surah Ali Imran.
- Meaning: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”
- The Prophet (ﷺ) recited verses 3:190–200 when he awoke for tahajjud (Sahih al-Bukhari 4569).
- Best moments to recite: on waking at night, before tahajjud, and whenever you reflect on the sky, mountains, or signs of Allah’s creation.
The Dua in Arabic
The full dua with diacritics, as preserved in the Mushaf of Surah Ali Imran:
رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Without diacritics (commonly typed online):
ربنا ما خلقت هذا باطلا سبحانك فقنا عذاب النار
Transliteration and Pronunciation
Rabbana ma khalaqta hadza bathila, subhanaka faqina ‘adhab an-nar.
Related:
Word-by-word breakdown for memorization:
- Rabbana (رَبَّنَا) — “Our Lord”
- Ma khalaqta (مَا خَلَقْتَ) — “You did not create”
- Hadza (هَذَا) — “this” (refers to the heavens, earth, and signs just mentioned in 3:190)
- Bathila (بَاطِلًا) — “in vain / without purpose / falsely”
- Subhanaka (سُبْحَانَكَ) — “exalted are You”
- Faqina (فَقِنَا) — “so protect us”
- ‘Adhab an-nar (عَذَابَ النَّارِ) — “the punishment of the Fire”
The audio recitation below follows the Hafs ‘an ‘Asim qira’ah used in most Mushafs worldwide:
The Source: Surah Ali Imran 3:190–191
The dua is the closing portion of ayah 3:191, but it is almost always read together with the preceding verse 3:190. The two ayat form a complete spiritual unit: ayah 190 names the signs in creation, and ayah 191 describes the response of believers who notice them.
Ayah 3:190
إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ
Inna fi khalqi as-samawati wa al-ardi wa ikhtilafi al-layli wa an-nahari la-ayatin li-ulil-albab.
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.”
Quran 3:190 (Sahih International)
Ayah 3:191 (containing the dua)
الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], ‘Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.’”
Quran 3:191 (Sahih International)
These two ayat are part of the last ten verses of Surah Ali Imran (3:190–200), which the Prophet (ﷺ) recited as part of his night worship.
Tafsir: What Does “Bathila” Mean?
The word bathila (بَاطِلًا) is the Arabic indefinite accusative form of batil, which carries the meanings “false,” “futile,” “without purpose,” or “in vain.” Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains that the believer here is rejecting the notion that the cosmos — the sun, moon, alternation of night and day, mountains, oceans — could exist by accident or without a Creator’s wisdom. To say ma khalaqta hadza bathila is to say: “Allah, every atom of this has a purpose, and You are far above creating without reason.”
Tafsir Al-Qurtubi adds that this reflection is the natural response of ulil-albab (people of understanding) the moment they truly contemplate the heavens. The thought of a purposeful creation immediately raises a question: if there is a purpose, then there must be accountability. And if there is accountability, then there is judgment. The dua moves from reflection to glorification (subhanaka) to the most urgent request a believer can make — protection from the Fire.
This is why scholars describe the closing verses of Surah Ali Imran as a complete spiritual exercise: tafakkur (reflection) → tasbih (glorification) → du‘a (supplication). The same pattern is recommended for anyone who looks up at a clear night sky, a mountain, or the ocean and feels their heart drawn toward Allah.
When to Recite This Dua
The strongest sunnah for this dua comes from the hadith of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), narrated through his aunt Maimuna bint al-Harith, the wife of the Prophet (ﷺ):
I spent the night at the house of my aunt Maimuna. The Prophet (ﷺ) talked with his wife for a while, then went to sleep. When it was the last third of the night, he got up, looked towards the sky and recited: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding…” — up to the end of the surah. Then he performed wudu, brushed his teeth and prayed eleven rak‘ahs.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4569 · Sahih Muslim 763
Based on this hadith and the wider scholarly tradition, here are the recommended moments to recite Rabbana Ma Khalaqta Hadza Bathila:
- On waking during the night — recite verses 3:190–200 of Surah Ali Imran before standing for tahajjud, exactly as the Prophet (ﷺ) did.
- Before sleep — as part of a routine of dhikr and the last ten verses of Ali Imran.
- When reflecting on creation — looking at the night sky, mountains, the sea, or any of the signs (ayat) that Allah mentions in the Quran.
- After fard prayers — especially Fajr and Isha, as part of personal du‘a.
- In moments of awe or doubt — when the heart wants a short, Quranic anchor that affirms purpose and seeks refuge from the Fire.
Imam an-Nawawi included these verses in his recommendations for the adhkar of waking at night, and the practice has been preserved across generations as one of the most beloved sunnahs of the Prophet’s nightly worship.
Related Rabbana Duas from the Quran
The Quran contains roughly forty supplications that begin with “Rabbana” (Our Lord). Each one teaches a different etiquette of asking Allah. If this dua resonated with you, the following ones — also from the Quran — pair well with it:
- Rabbana Atina fid-Dunya Hasanah — the most-recited dua of Hajj, asking for good in this world and the next (Quran 2:201).
- Rabbana Hablana min Azwajina — the dua for righteous spouses and children (Quran 25:74).
- Rabbana Zalamna Anfusana — the dua of repentance taught to Adam and Hawwa (Quran 7:23).
- Rabbana La Tuzigh Quloobana — from the verse just after this one (Quran 3:8), asking Allah not to let our hearts deviate after guidance.
- Rabbana Afrigh Alaina Sabran — the dua for patience and firmness in difficulty (Quran 2:250).
- Rabbana Atina min Ladunka Rahmatan — the youth-of-the-cave dua for mercy and right guidance (Quran 18:10).
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rabbana ma khalaqta hadza bathila mean in English?
It means: “Our Lord, You did not create this in vain; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Sahih International translation of Quran 3:191). The believer affirms that Allah’s creation has purpose, glorifies Him, and asks for protection from Hellfire in one continuous breath.
In which surah and ayah is the dua “Rabbana ma khalaqta hadza bathila” found?
It is in Surah Ali Imran, verse 191 (Quran 3:191) — the third surah of the Quran. The dua is the closing portion of the ayah, and it is almost always read together with the preceding verse 3:190, which describes the signs of Allah in the heavens and the earth.
When should I recite Rabbana ma khalaqta hadza bathila?
The strongest sunnah is to recite the last ten verses of Surah Ali Imran (3:190–200) on waking during the night, before tahajjud prayer, as the Prophet (ﷺ) did (Sahih al-Bukhari 4569). It is also recommended when reflecting on the sky, mountains, or any sign of Allah’s creation, and as part of regular evening adhkar before sleep.
What is the hadith about reciting the last 10 verses of Surah Ali Imran?
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated that he spent the night at the house of his aunt Maimuna, wife of the Prophet (ﷺ). When the last third of the night came, the Prophet got up, looked at the sky, and recited the closing ten verses of Surah Ali Imran. He then performed wudu, used the siwak, and prayed eleven rak‘ahs. The hadith is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 4569 and Sahih Muslim 763.
What does the word “bathila” (بَاطِلًا) mean in this dua?
“Bathila” comes from the root batil, which means false, futile, in vain, or without purpose. In Quran 3:191, the believer says Allah did not create the heavens and earth bathila — meaning nothing in creation is aimless, false, or without wisdom. Tafsir Ibn Kathir explains the word as the opposite of haqq (truth/purpose).
Why are ayah 3:190 and 3:191 usually recited together?
The two ayat form a complete spiritual unit. Ayah 3:190 names the signs of Allah in the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day. Ayah 3:191 describes the response of ulil-albab (people of understanding) who notice those signs and immediately turn to dhikr, glorification, and supplication. Reciting them together preserves the Quran’s flow from reflection to du‘a as the Prophet (ﷺ) recited them during tahajjud.
Memorize this short dua, attach it to a moment in your day — the first time you look at the sky, before sleep, or on waking at night — and let it become a permanent part of your dhikr. It is one of the shortest and most complete supplications in the Quran: reflection, glorification, and a plea for protection from the Fire, all in a single breath.
