54. "Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, & we could never have it (by our efforts)."  When did Muslims recite this most common dua?

بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِٱلرَّحِيمِ

Answer:  Riding on an animal/vehicle before travelling. .

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَ إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ،    

 (43:13)     

Allahuthala says to mankind, ".....has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way,...................... and has appointed for you ships and cattle on which you ride, in order that you may mount firmly on their backs, and then may remember the favour of your Lord. (Az-Zukhruf, 43:10, 12 &13). He further says, "......when you mount thereon, and say: "Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts)." (43:13).

Among all creations Allahuthala gave capacity to man to use boats, ships and animals as means of conveyance. He gave the capacity to sail ships in mighty ocean and created also animals who carry men and heavy loads on their back, and take them for the long distance. But men never realize that and never thank Allah for this favour.

Ali (RA) said: Once the Prophet  ﷺ  put his foot in the stirrup with “Bismillah” and then, after riding, said:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَ إِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ،

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِا، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ، اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ ،

سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنوُبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ

"Glory to Him who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts). And verily, to Our Lord we indeed are to return!" (43:13 & 14). Then pronounced  الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ  three times, and  اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ   three times; then said: "O Allah, You are pure, surely I have oppressed myself so forgive me, for You are the only One Who forgives sins". بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ 

Then he laughed. I asked: “What made you laugh. O Messenger of Allah ? ”ﷺ He replied: When a servant says “Rabbighfirli",  Almighty Allah is very much pleased with this  and says: "My servant knows that there is none beside Me who can forgive sins."

Abdullah bin Umar (RA) says that whenever the Prophet ﷺ‎  sat on a conveyance with for a journey, he says:

اللهُ أكبَر ، اللهُ أكبَر ، اللهُ أكبَر، سُـبْحانَ الَّذي سَخَّـرَ لَنا هذا وَما كُنّا لَهُ مُقْـرِنين وَإِنّا إِلى رَبِّنـا لَمُنْقَـلِبون، اللّهُـمَّ إِنّا نَسْـأَلُكَ في سَفَـرِنا هذا البِـرَّ وَالتَّـقْوى ، وَمِنَ الْعَمَـلِ ما تَـرْضى ، اللّهُـمَّ هَوِّنْ عَلَـينا سَفَرَنا هذا وَاطْوِ عَنّا بُعْـدَه ، اللّهُـمَّ أَنْـتَ الصّـاحِبُ في السَّـفَرر ، وَالْخَلـيفَةُ في الأهـلِ ، اللّهُـمَّ إِنّـي أَعـوذُبِكَ مِنْ وَعْـثاءِ السَّـفَر ، وَكَآبَةِ الْمَنْـظَر، وَسوءِ الْمُنْـقَلَبِ في المـالِ وَالأَهْـل

Allahuakbar three times, then would recite this verse 43:13 & 14, and then pray: "O Allah, I implore You to grant me in this journey the grace of goodness and piety and such acts as may please You. O Allah! Make the journey easy and roll up the long distance for us. O Allah! You alone are the Companion during the journey and Guardian of the family in our absence. O Allah! Take care of us during the journey and our house-hold in our absence."

This dua has to be recited not only while riding on the animal and taking the journey but also the journey via  a vehicle - bicycle, two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers, six wheelers, planes, boats, ships etc.

Abu Mijlaz (RA) said: “Once I rode on my animal and recited this verse.” Hasan (RA) asked: "Have you been commanded to say so?" I said: "What should I say then?" He replied: Say, "Thank Allah, Who guided us to Islam: Thanks to Him, Who did us a favor by sending Muhammad   ﷺ Thanks to Him Who admitted us into the best community that has been raised for the people; then recite this verse."

Yes! He is right! Even Allahuthala guided us through Quran: "And (remember) when your Lord proclaimed: "If you give thanks, I will give you more (of My Blessings), but if you are thankless, verily! My Punishment is indeed severe."  (14:7).

Upon returning home recite the same again adding, آيِبـونَ تائِبـونَ عابِـدونَ لِرَبِّـنا حـامِـدون   We return repentant to our Lord, worshipping our Lord, and praising our Lord.

الحمدلله