I said to Ayesha, "Umm Muiminin, tell me, when the Prophet ﷺ prayed, did he recite aloud or silently?"She replied, "Sometimes he recited aloud, and sometimes silently."I said, "Allah is the greatest. Praise be to Allah, who has made room for flexibility in this matter."
قلت لعائشة: يا أم المؤمنين أرأيت النبي ﷺ أكان يجهر بصلاته أم يخافت بها؟ قالت: ربما جهر بصلاته، وربما خافت بها، قلت: الله أكبر، الحمد لله الذي جعل في الأمر سعة.
Reported by Abu Dawud (226), Nasai (222), and Ibn Majah (1354), all through the hadith of Barad bin Sinan Abu Ala, from Ubada bin Nusai, from Ghudayf bin Harith, in a long hadith previously cited in the Book of Ghusl, chapter on ghusl for janaba before and after sleep. Each of them narrates a portion of it. Imam Ahmad (24202), and Abu Dawud (226) relying on him, narrated the complete hadith. Ibn Hibban (2447) graded it sahih and also narrated the complete hadith through the route of Barad Abu Ala, then repeated it (2582) mentioning only the recitation at night. Its chain is hasan on account of Barad bin Sinan, for he is "truthful."On this subject there is also a report from Abu Hurairah, who said, "The recitation of the Prophet at night would sometimes rise and sometimes lower." This was reported by Abu Dawud (1328) from Muhammad bin Bakkar bin Rayyan, who said, Abdullah bin Mubarak narrated to us, from Imran bin Zaida, from his father, from Abu Khalid Walibi, from Abu Hurairah, and he related the hadith.Ibn Khuzayma (1159), Ibn Hibban (2603), and Hakim (1/310) all graded it sahih, all through the route of Imran bin Zaida with his chain of transmission. Hakim said, "sahih in chain." In the chain is Imran bin Zaida, whom no one has affirmed as reliable except that Ibn Hibban mentioned him among the trustworthy narrators and narrated from him, so he is "acceptable," meaning if corroborated. Likewise his father Zaida, who is Ibn Nashit, was affirmed as reliable by no one except Ibn Hibban, and for this reason Hafidh said, "acceptable," meaning when corroborated. I have not found any corroboration for the two of them, but there exist sound foundational reports that strengthen this hadith.