65/17.15. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 4722 — Balanced Quran Recitation in Prayer
"...And offer your Salāt (prayer) neither aloud nor in a low voice..." (V.17:110)
Hadith About Quran Recitation in Prayer
Sahih Bukhari : 4722
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 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 Narrated from:
Narrated 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.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4722In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 244USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 246
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 4722
This hadith about Quran recitation in prayer explains the verse that says not to recite too loudly and not too quietly. Ibn Abbas says it was revealed while Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم was in Mecca and hiding himself. When he prayed with his companions, he would raise his voice with the Qur’an. If the pagans heard it, they abused the Qur’an, the One who revealed it, and the one who brought it. So the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was told not to make the recitation so loud that they would hear and abuse it, and not so low that his companions could not hear. The teaching is balanced worship. In this text, the middle way protects the Qur’an from abuse while still helping the believers follow the recitation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Recitation should serve the purpose of prayer and listening.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was guided to avoid a voice level that led to abuse of the Qur’an.
- The companions still needed to hear the recitation.
- The verse points to a balanced way between loud and very low recitation.
