What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And do not recite your prayer aloud or in a low voice”?

The questioner : A listener asks about the saying of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He: ?

The Shaykh : This verse was revealed concerning the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was in Makkah, when he was reciting the Qur'an and raising his voice with it. This caused harm to him from Quraysh, so Allah revealed to him this verse: Thus, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, guided him to what is in his benefit and safety from the harm of these polytheists. He said: “Do not recite your prayer aloud,” for raising the voice brings harm upon you, “and do not recite it in a low voice,” for lowering the voice to the extent that the benefit is lost. Rather, make it a middle ground between what brings harm and what brings benefit. So do not raise your voice in a way that causes harm, and do not lower it in a way that causes the benefit to be lost.