The meaning of «يتخافتون» is «يتسارون», that is, those who speak in a low voice.
حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ زُرَارَةَ ، عَنْ هُشَيْمٍ ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو بِشْرٍ ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ ، عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا ، فِي قَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى : وَلا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ وَلا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا سورة الإسراء آية 110 ، قَالَ : نَزَلَتْ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مختف بمكة ، فكان إذا صلى بأصحابه رفع صوته بالقرآن ، فإذا سمعه المشركون سبوا القرآن ومن أنزله ومن جاء به ، فقال الله لنبيه صلى الله عليه وسلم : وَلا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلاتِكَ سورة الإسراء آية 110 أي بقراءتك فيسمع المشركون فيسبوا القرآن وَلا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا سورة الإسراء آية 110 عَنْ أَصْحَابِكَ فَلَا تُسْمِعُهُمْ وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ سَبِيلا سورة الإسراء آية 110 .
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: regarding the explanation of the Verse:-- '(O Muhammad!) Neither say your prayer aloud, nor say it in a low tone.' (17.110) This Verse was revealed while Allah's Apostle was hiding himself at Mecca. At that time, when he led his companions in prayer, he used to raise his voice while reciting the Qur'an; and if the pagans heard him, they would abuse the Qur'an, its Revealer, and the one who brought it. So Allah said to His Prophet: "Neither say your prayer aloud. i.e., your recitation (of Qur'an) lest the pagans should hear (it) and abuse the Qur'an" nor say it in a low tone, "lest your voice should fail to reach your companions, "but follow a way between." (17.110)
Hadith Referenceصحيح البخاري / كتاب التوحيد / 7525
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:أحاديث صحيح البخاريّ كلّها صحيحة
Hadith Commentary: The condition of the disbelievers of Makkah was exactly as described here. The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) himself prayed for the knowledge and excellence of Abdullah ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu). He has been called the monk (rahban) of this Ummah. He passed away at the age of 71 in the year 68 AH. He was buried in Ta’if. Radi Allahu anhu wa ardaah.
Source: Sahih Bukhari: Commentary by Maulana Dawood Raz, Page: 7525
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: (regarding the Verse):-- 'Neither say your prayer aloud, nor say it in a low tone.' (17.110) This Verse was revealed while Allah's Apostle was hiding himself in Mecca, and when he raised his voice while reciting the Qur'an, the pagans would hear him and abuse the Qur'an and its Revealer and to the one who brought it. So Allah said:-- 'Neither say your prayer aloud, nor say it in a low tone.' (17.110) That is, 'Do not say your prayer so loudly that the pagans can hear you, nor say it in such a low tone that your companions do not hear you.' But seek a middle course between those (extremes), i.e., let your companions hear, but do not relate the Qur'an loudly, so that they may learn it from you.
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite the Noble Qur’an aloud with the hope that the polytheists would hear it and reflect upon it. However, in reaction, they began to speak ill of it, so he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was prohibited from reciting it too loudly.
Imam al-Bukhari (rahimahullah) has established through this explanation of Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) that the Speech of Allah is not created, because the attribute of “revelation” (inzal) has been mentioned for it. Therefore, this Speech is an attribute of Allah, not His creation, because creation is not recited, nor can it be recited in a loud or low voice.
In any case, the Noble Qur’an is not created, rather it is the Book revealed by Allah, as is established by numerous evidences from the Qur’an and Hadith.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 7490
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: The Prophet was hiding himself in Mecca and used to recite the (Qur'an) in a loud voice. When the pagans heard him they would abuse the Qur'an and the one who brought it, so Allah said to His Prophet: 'Neither say your prayer aloud, nor say it in a low tone.' (17.110)
Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary: ➊ This hadith has already been mentioned several times before. It explicitly states that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) used to recite the Noble Qur’an in a loud voice.
➋ From this, it is understood that the voice is attributed to the reciter, just as in this hadith the loud voice is attributed to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), because this is his action. When reciting the Qur’an, the reciter can raise or lower his voice, as this is within his control; however, this action itself is created by Allah, the Exalted. But the Qur’an, whether recited in a loud or soft voice, is the Speech (Kalam) of Allah, the Lord of Might and Majesty, and it is His Attribute. And Allah is the One whose help is sought.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 7547
´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.'"
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation: 1: Do not raise your voice excessively in prayer, nor make it too low, but rather choose a way between the two (al-Isra: 110)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 3146
´Narrated Sa'eed bin Jubair:` from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding: 'And offer your Salat neither aloud nor in a low voice (17:110)." He said: "It was revealed in Makkah. When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would raise his voice with the Qur'an, the idolaters would insult him, the One Who revealed it, and the one who came with it. So Allah revealed: And offer your Salat neither aloud so that they would not insult the Qur'an and the One who revealed it, and the one who came with it, nor in a low voice (too low) such that you can let your Companions hear it, and learn it from you."
Shaykh Dr. Abdur Rahman Freywai
Explanation: 1: Do not recite your prayer in a loud voice (Bani Isra'il: 110)
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi – Majlis ‘Ilmi Dar al-Da‘wah, New Delhi Edition, Page: 3145
´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."
Hafiz Muhammad Ameen
1012. Commentary:
➊ Apart from the polytheists, during the prayer the imam should adopt a moderate volume. Similarly, one performing a voluntary (nafl) prayer should keep his voice at such a level that it does not disturb others in their prayer or rest, yet he himself can hear it. In any case, reciting only with the lips does not create the same effect as reciting with the voice. And Allah knows best.
➋ In the early days of Islam, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would invite people (to Islam), the polytheists would cause him harm. He and his companions would pray in secret and continued their work of invitation persistently. In the same way, every caller (da‘i) should adopt means of protection and bear the hardships inflicted by opponents. Ultimately, success belongs to the religion of Islam. Furthermore, whoever invites towards Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam should avoid every action and word that could give people an opportunity to taunt or criticize Allah, His Messenger, or the religion of Islam. And Allah knows best.
Source: Sunan Nasa'i: Translation and Benefits by Shaykh Hafiz Muhammad Amin Hafizullah, Page: 1012