Sunan an-Nasa’i: Book 11, Hadith 136
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: Concerning the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime: “And offer your salah (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice”- It was revealed when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was still (preaching) in secret in Makkah. When he led his companions in prayer, he would raise his voice” -(One of the narrators) Ibn Mani’ said: He would recite the Quran out loud”- “And when the idolators heard his voice they would insult the Quran, and the One Who revealed it, and the one who brought it. So Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, said to His Prophet (ﷺ): And offer your salah (prayer) neither aloud that is, such that the idolators can hear your recitation and insult the Quran; nor in a low voice, so that your companions cannot hear; but follow a way between.”
أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، وَيَعْقُوبُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ الدَّوْرَقِيُّ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي وَحْشِيَّةَ – وَهُوَ ابْنُ إِيَاسٍ – عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا } قَالَ نَزَلَتْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُخْتَفٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ – وَقَالَ ابْنُ مَنِيعٍ يَجْهَرُ بِالْقُرْآنِ – وَكَانَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِذَا سَمِعُوا صَوْتَهُ سَبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ وَمَنْ أَنْزَلَهُ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ لِنَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم { وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ } أَىْ بِقِرَاءَتِكَ فَيَسْمَعُ الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَيَسُبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ { وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا } عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَلاَ يَسْمَعُوا { وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً } .
Sunan an-Nasa’i: Book 11, Hadith 136
The above hadith is from the Sunan an-Nasa’i collection of hadiths. Imam Ahmad ibn Shu’ayb al-Nasa’i’s magnum opus, the Sunan an-Nasa’i, is an indispensable part of the Kutub al-Sittah, the six major books of hadith revered in Sunni Islam. Completed in the 9th century, this collection features a comprehensive assembly of over 5,700 narrations pertaining to the teachings and example of the Prophet Muhammad. The compiler’s methodology was notably rigorous and scrupulous, setting a high benchmark for authenticity. He meticulously sifted through countless reports, including only the most sound and excluding any that were weak or fabricated. Therefore, his Sunan is universally esteemed as a cornerstone of reliable Islamic tradition.
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For more Hadith in Book 11: The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer