47/18. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3146 — Balanced Recitation
Regarding Surat Bani Isra'il
Hadith on Balanced Recitation in Salah
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3146
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3146
حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، فِي قَوْلِهِ : (وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ) قَالَ نَزَلَتْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مُخْتَفٍ بِمَكَّةَ وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ فَكَانَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ إِذَا سَمِعُوهُ شَتَمُوا الْقُرْآنَ وَمَنْ أَنْزَلَهُ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ لِنَبِيِّهِ : (وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ ) أَىْ بِقِرَاءَتِكَ فَيَسْمَعَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ فَيَسُبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ : (وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا ) عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ : ( وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً ) . هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
Narrated Sa'eed bin Jubair: From Ibn 'Abbas Regarding Allah'S Saying: "And Offer Your Salat Neither Aloud Nor In A Low Voice But Follow A Way Between." He Said: "It Was Revealed When The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Was Hiding Himself In Makkah, And When He Led His Companions In Salat, He Would Raise His Voice With The Qur'An. So When The Idolaters Heard It They Would Insult The Qur'An, The One Who Revealed It, And The One Who Came With It.So Allah, Most High, Said To His Prophet: 'And Offer Your Salat Neither Aloud' That Is: Your Recitation, So That The Idolaters Would Not Hear It And Insult The Qur'An. 'Nor In A Low Voice (Too Low)' For Your Companions, 'But Follow A Way Between.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3146In-book reference : Book 47, Hadith 198English translation : Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3146
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3146
This hadith gives another report about the same verse: do not offer your salat aloud or in a low voice, but seek a way between. Ibn Abbas explained that it was revealed while the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was hiding in Makkah. When he led his Companions in prayer and raised his voice with the Qur’an, the idolaters insulted the Qur’an, the One who revealed it, and the one who brought it. The verse guided him to avoid a voice that the idolaters would hear and misuse, while not lowering it so much that the Companions could not hear. This hadith about balanced recitation in salah teaches careful worship and wise teaching.
What we learn from this hadith
- The verse guides toward a middle way in recitation.
- The Qur’an should not be exposed to insult when it can be avoided.
- Students need to hear enough to learn from the teacher.
- The hadith shows that worship also includes wisdom in how it is practiced.
