Quranic root
بطل
b · ṭ · l
The root centers on something passing away, lacking lasting reality, or ceasing to have effect; this yields the senses of nullity, falsehood, invalidation, and futility.
From the basic idea of disappearance or brief continuance, the root develops into describing what is false, void, ineffective, or unprofitable, and into causative uses meaning to annul or render something futile. The related sense of a hero is explained as one who exposes himself to destruction or makes danger and injury of no account.
- Maqāyīs · row 785
- Mufradāt · row 133
- 4
- Quran-attested forms
- 7
- Quran senses
- 36
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
بَطَلَ
baṭala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form I
- Form
- I
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To become void, futile, or without effect; to go for nothing.
Used of an act, deed, assertion, or other thing that loses its efficacy or value and becomes of no account.
- Lane · entry 36629
- Mufradāt · row 133
Selected Quran examples
Quran 7:118word 3
“and became futile”
أَبْطَلَ
ʾabṭala
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 4 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
To nullify, annul, or render void and ineffectual; to make something go for nothing.
A transitive causative use applying whether the object is true or false, valid or invalid. Quranic constructions include rendering deeds vain, proving a claim or practice false, and annulling falsehood.
- Lane · entry 36631
- Mufradāt · row 133
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:264word 5
“render in vain”
Quran 8:8word 3
“and prove false”
Quran 10:81word 11
“will nullify it”
بَاطِلٌ
bāṭilun
- Part of speech
- Active participle · lexicalized adjective/noun
- Quran occurrences
- 26 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Falsehood; that which is untrue, unfounded, unreal, invalid, futile, worthless, or without effective purpose.
May describe or denote sayings, beliefs, claims, deeds, affairs, or things lacking truth, soundness, efficacy, or lasting value. In constructions with بِ, it can express acting by or with falsehood, wrongfully, or without legitimate basis.
- Lane · entry 36639
- Mufradāt · row 133
Selected Quran examples
Quran 2:42word 4
“with [the] falsehood”
Quran 38:27word 7
“without purpose”
In a reported Quranic interpretation, belief in a plurality of gods or polytheistic belief.
This is a specialized interpretive application of الباطل and should not replace its general sense of falsehood or invalidity.
- Lane · entry 36639
In certain Quranic interpretations, al-bāṭil denotes Iblīs; its plural may denote devils or enchanters.
A specialized referential interpretation of الباطل in particular Quranic expressions, distinct from the ordinary abstract sense of falsehood.
- Lane · entry 36639
Selected Quran examples
Quran 41:42word 3
“the falsehood”
مُبْطِلٌ
mubṭilun
- Part of speech
- Active participle · substantivized
- Quran occurrences
- 5 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
One who utters or performs false or vain things; a falsifier.
Used of a person whose speech or conduct has no truth or reality, including one who embellishes speech with lies or makes false claims.
- Lane · entry 36642
- Mufradāt · row 133
Selected Quran examples
Quran 30:58word 19
“falsifiers”
One who invalidates or seeks to annul what is true.
A Quranic use emphasizing the agent who attempts to nullify or discredit the truth, rather than merely uttering a false statement.
- Mufradāt · row 133
Selected Quran examples
Quran 40:78word 32
“the falsifiers”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:42بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِwith [the] falsehood
- 2:188بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِwrongfully
- 2:264تُبْطِلُوا۟render in vain
- 3:71بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِwith the falsehood
- 3:191بَـٰطِلًۭا(in) vain
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 13 Classical meanings
بَطَلَ
Of a person's blood: to go unavenged and uncompensated; of a slain person, to be killed without retaliation or blood-wit.
Occurs in the idiomatic expressions بَطَلَ دَمُهُ and ذَهَبَ دَمُهُ بُطْلًا.
- Lane · entry 36629
- Mufradāt · row 133
بَطَلَ
To be idle, unoccupied, or without work.
A personal use, especially of someone who has no employment or current occupation.
- Lane · entry 36629
بِطَالَةٌ
Idleness, or being diverted from what would bring profit in this world or the next.
The noun denotes unproductive inactivity or diversion from beneficial activity.
- Lane · entry 36629
بَطَلَ
In speech, to jest, joke, or speak without seriousness.
This is a discourse-related use describing a lack of earnestness, not merely the falsity of the content.
- Lane · entry 36629
بَطُلَ
To become courageous, brave, or strong-hearted in war or fighting; sometimes, to affect or force oneself to be courageous.
The bravery sense is distinct from the Form I sense of becoming futile and is associated with the noun بَطَلٌ.
- Lane · entry 36629
التَّبْطِيلُ
The pursuit of vain or frivolous diversion or sport, together with foolish or ignorant conduct.
An abstract noun describing unprofitable amusement and conduct.
- Lane · entry 36630
أَبْطَلَ
To speak falsely, lie, or make a false claim or demand for oneself; to claim what is not right or just.
This lexical branch concerns the speaker or claimant and is distinct from the causative use meaning to annul an object.
- Lane · entry 36631
تَبَطَّلَ
To take turns among themselves in saying or doing false, vain, wrong, or futile things.
A reciprocal or alternating construction describing people sharing out false or futile speech or conduct.
- Lane · entry 36632
تَبَطَّلَ
To become unoccupied and lazy.
An attested, though qualified, use of the Form V verb distinct from its reciprocal use concerning false or futile speech and conduct.
- Lane · entry 36632
بَطَلٌ
A courageous, brave, or strong-hearted person, especially in war; a hero.
The word is commonly substantivized for a person of courage or valor. Its application to a woman is reported but disputed in the lexical evidence.
- Lane · entry 36634
بَطْلَانُ
A person whose powers have become weak.
A vulgar or nonstandard usage according to the lexical evidence.
- Lane · entry 36636
بُطَّلَاتٌ
False or vain things, especially unprofitable sayings.
A plural noun for false or futile utterances or things.
- Lane · entry 36637
بَطَّالٌ
An idle, unoccupied, or lazy person; one diverted from profitable pursuits, and hence one given to joking, false speech, or unprofitable sport.
The term can emphasize idleness, lack of useful occupation, vain pursuits, joking, or speech without truth.
- Lane · entry 36638
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Some specialized Quran interpretations in the lexical evidence are cited in Lane at locations that do not align cleanly with the supplied QAC occurrences, including references to 42:23 and 34:48. Those interpretations are retained as reported, but no unsupported modern location is assigned.