It is narrated from Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) that people asked him why Maghribain and Morning Prayers are recited aloud and other prayers recited softly. Imam (a.s.) said: When the Holy Prophet (S) was taken to heavens, the first prayer that the Almighty Allah made obligatory on the Prophet was Zuhr prayer on Friday. Angels were commanded to follow the Prophet and He told the Holy Prophet (S) to recite the prayer aloud so that his excellence may become known to the angels. Then Asr prayer was made obligatory and none of the angels were ordered to follow him.
The Holy Prophet (S) was told to recite it softly as no one was following him. Then Maghrib and Isha prayer was made obligatory and the angels were commanded to follow him and he was asked to recite loudly so that angels may hear him. When he returned to the earth at dawn, Morning Prayer was made obligatory and he was commanded to pray with the people so that his excellence is known to the people as it was known to the angels. People asked them why in the last two rakats, is there more excellence in reciting Tashbihat Arba instead of Surah Hamd? He replied: “During the last two rakats rays of light fell on the Prophet, which made the Prophet fearful so he recited: “Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah and there is no god, except Allah, and Allah is the greatest.” That is why it is more rewarding to recite these recitations than Surah Hamd.