Ibn 'Abbas reported:
The word of (Allah) Great and Glorious: 'And utter not your prayer loudly, nor be low in it" (xvii. 110) was revealed as the Messenger of Allah (may peace beupon him) was hiding himself in Mecca. When he led his Companions in prayer he raised his voice (while reciting the) Qur'an. And when the polytheists heard that, they reviled the Qur'an and Him Who revealed it and him who brought it. Upon this Allah, the Exalted, said to His Messenger (ﷺ): Utter not your prayer so loudly that the polytheists may hear your recitation and (recite it) not so low that it may be inaudible to your Companions. Make them hear the Qur'an, but do not recite it loudly and seek a (middle) way between these. Recite between loud and low tone.
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ، مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ جَمِيعًا عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ، - قَالَ ابْنُ الصَّبَّاحِ حَدَّثَنَا هُشَيْمٌ، - أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ، 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 مُتَوَارٍ بِمَكَّةَ فَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى بِأَصْحَابِهِ رَفَعَ صَوْتَهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ فَإِذَا سَمِعَ ذَلِكَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ سَبُّوا الْقُرْآنَ وَمَنْ أَنْزَلَهُ وَمَنْ جَاءَ بِهِ فَقَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى لِنَبِيِّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم { وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاَتِكَ} فَيَسْمَعَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ قِرَاءَتَكَ { وَلاَ تُخَافِتْ بِهَا} عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ أَسْمِعْهُمُ الْقُرْآنَ وَلاَ تَجْهَرْ ذَلِكَ الْجَهْرَ وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلاً يَقُولُ بَيْنَ الْجَهْرِ وَالْمُخَافَتَةِ .