It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that when this verse was revealed: {وَلَا تَجْہَرْ بِصَلَاتِکَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِہَا وَابْتَغِ بَیْنَ ذٰلِکَ سَبِیْلًا} … "And do not recite your prayer loudly, nor recite it in a low voice, but seek a way between." At that time, the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was living in Makkah in concealment. When he (peace and blessings be upon him) led his companions in prayer, he would recite the Holy Qur’an aloud. When the polytheists heard the Qur’an, they would revile the Holy Qur’an, the One who revealed it, and the angel who brought it. So Allah Almighty said to His Prophet: {وَلَا تَجْہَرْ بِصَلَاتِکَ} meaning, do not recite so loudly that the polytheists hear and then abuse the Qur’an, {وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِہَا} and do not recite so softly to your companions that they cannot hear, so that they may listen and learn it, {وَابْتَغِ بَیْنَ ذٰلِکَ سَبِیلًا} and seek a way between these two.