Deliberately splitting “al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm” into two parts

Question

In our neighbourhood a respected hafiz calls the morning adhan: after saying “al-salah” he deliberately breaks his breath and then says “khayrun min al-nawm”. He says that this breaking of the breath is the sunna of the Messenger and that a great reward is obtained for it. [Is this correct?]

Answer

This mu’adhdhin’s manner is wrong, and calling it the sunna of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is a grave error. “Al-salatu khayrun min al-nawm” should not be split into two parts.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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