Hadith 244

Sahih Bukhari

Book 65: Prophetic Commentary on the Qur'an (Tafseer of the Prophet (pbuh))

Chapter 14

The Statement of Allah: "...And We made the Qiblah (prayer direction towards Jerusalem) which you used to face, only to test those who followed the Messenger (Muhammad ) . . ." (V.2:143)

باب قَوْلِهِ ‏{‏وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الْقِبْلَةَ الَّتِي كُنْتَ عَلَيْهَا إِلاَّ لِنَعْلَمَ مَنْ يَتَّبِعُ الرَّسُولَ مِمَّنْ يَنْقَلِبُ عَلَى عَقِبَيْهِ وَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَكَبِيرَةً إِلاَّ عَلَى الَّذِينَ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُضِيعَ إِيمَانَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ‏}‏

Sahih al-Bukhari 4722
حَدَّثَنَا يَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى ‏{‏وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا‏}‏ قَالَ نَزَلَتْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُخْتَفٍ بِمَكَّةَ، كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ فَإِذَا سَمِعَهُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ سَبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ وَمَنْ أَنْزَلَهُ، وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ، فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏{‏وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ‏}‏ أَىْ بِقِرَاءَتِكَ، فَيَسْمَعَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ، فَيَسُبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ، ‏{‏وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا‏}‏ عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَلاَ تُسْمِعُهُمْ ‏{‏وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً‏}‏‏.‏
Ibn `Abbas:

(regarding): 'Neither say your, prayer aloud, nor say it in a low tone.' (17.110) This Verse was revealed while Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) was hiding himself in Mecca. When he prayed with his companions, he used to raise his voice with the recitation of Qur'an, and if the pagans happened to hear him, they would abuse the Qur'an, the One who revealed it and the one who brought it. Therefore Allah said to His Prophet : 'Neither say your prayer aloud.' (17.110) i.e. do not recite aloud lest the pagans should hear you, but follow a way between.
Quran References: