Some later scholars have adopted a newly introduced approach to certain supplications and remembrances which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would recite and practise using different wordings—and which have been transmitted with different wordings. They combine these wordings, recommend doing so, and consider the resulting formula the best wording to recite.

An example is the hadith in the two Sahīh collections, in which Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“O Messenger of Allah, teach me a supplication to recite during my prayer.” He replied: “Say: ‘O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself, and none forgives sins but You. So grant me forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”

The wording has been transmitted as “greatly” and also as “grievously.” Someone following this approach therefore says that it is recommended to say “greatly and grievously.”

The same applies when one narration reads:

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,”

and another reads:

“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad, his wives and his descendants,”

and in similar cases. This is a newly introduced approach, unprecedented among any of the recognized imams.

Following this approach consistently would entail reciting the tashahhud (testimony of faith) using all its transmitted wordings, and likewise reciting the opening supplication using all its transmitted wordings. Besides being contrary to the practice of the Muslims, this was never recommended by any of their imams; rather, their practice was the opposite. It is therefore a religious innovation and rationally unsound.