What does « Vain / Useless » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Vain / Useless (عبث) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

عبث

Vain / Useless

Root: ع - ب - ث

Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Vain / Useless

Al-'abath: mixing play with one's action, like saying: he mixed the dried cheese.

The Almighty says: 'Did you think We created you in vain?' (Al-Mu'minun 115).

Creation has a wise purpose, not futile.

Vain / Useless in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0

Distribution of verses by surah

Al-Mu'minun 1

Ash-Shu'ara 1

Surah Al-Mu'minun : 115 Meccan

﴿أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾

Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?"

Surah Ash-Shu'ara : 128 Meccan

﴿أَتَبْنُونَ بِكُلِّ رِيعٍ ءَايَةً تَعْبَثُونَ﴾

Do you construct on every elevation a sign, amusing yourselves,

Words from the same root as Vain / Useless

أصبع

Finger

بث

To spread / To scatter

بحث

To search / To rummage

بخع

To grieve oneself to death

To resurrect / To send

بعثر

To scatter / To strew

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