Hadith: Anas was asked: How was the recitation of the Prophet (ﷺ)? He replied: "It was with Madd (elongation)

عَنْ قَتَادَةَ قَالَ:
سُئِلَ أَنَسٌ كَيْفَ كَانَتْ قِرَاءَةُ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ؟ فَقَالَ: «كَانَتْ مَدًّا»، ثُمَّ قَرَأَ: {بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ} [الفاتحة: 1] يَمُدُّ بِبِسْمِ اللَّهِ، وَيَمُدُّ بِالرَّحْمَنِ، وَيَمُدُّ بِالرَّحِيمِ.
[صحيح] - [رواه البخاري] - [صحيح البخاري: 5046]

Qatādah reported:
Anas was asked: How was the recitation of the Prophet (ﷺ)? He replied: "It was with Madd (elongation)." Then he recited: {In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful} [Surat al-Fātihah: 1] while extending the pronunciation of {In the Name of Allah,} and extending {the Most Compassionate}, and extending {the Most Merciful}.
[Authentic hadith] - [Narrated by Bukhari] - [Sahih Bukhari - 5046]

Explanation

Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’an. He said: He would prolong his voice in recitation with Madd (elongation); he would extend the lām before the hā’ in the word Allāh, extend the mīm before the nūn in Ar-Rahmān, and extend the hā’ in Ar-Rahīm.

Benefits from the Hadith

1. Madd (elongation) means fully extending the sounds of the letters of madd—alif, wāw, and yā’— when they are in a state of sukūn (silent) and preceded by a vowel that matches them.
2. Clarifying the Prophet's way in reciting the Qur’an.
3. The practical demonstration of how the Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite the Qur’an.
4. As-Sindi said: His statement (he would prolong his voice in recitation with Madd) means that he would lengthen the letters that are suitable for elongation, using this to aid in contemplation, reflection, and reminding those who take heed.
5. Importance of knowing Tajwīd (reciting the Qur’an in accordance with established rules of pronunciation and intonation) and the sciences of the Qur’an.
6. Understanding the texts is referred to the scholars, as Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked and he explained to the questioner.