or omitted, and other such variations. However, some of these transmitted forms may be recommended and preferred over others when evidence establishes their superiority, without the others being disliked.

It is well known that a person accountable under Islamic law cannot combine two alternative forms of an act of worship at the same time. He cannot recite two forms of the testimony while seated in prayer together, or two Quranic readings together, or perform two forms of the prayer in times of fear together. If he performs the act twice, that is prohibited. Combining these forms is therefore sometimes forbidden and sometimes disliked.

Pay no heed to those who may recommend combining some of these forms. For example, I have seen someone piece together the formulas for sending blessings upon the Prophet that were transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and recommend reciting that composite supplication. He also commented on the hadith of Abū Bakr al-Siddīq, reported by both al-Bukhārī and Muslim, in which he said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“Teach me a supplication to recite in my prayer.” He replied: “Say: ‘O Allah, I have committed grave wrongs against myself (in another narration: many wrongs), and none forgives sins but You. So grant me forgiveness from Yourself and have mercy upon me. You are indeed the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.’”

This person said that it is recommended to say, “many grave wrongs,” and makes similar recommendations in comparable cases. This view is weak. First, this is not Sunnah; rather, it is contrary to the prescribed practice. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not say all these wordings together. Rather, he would say one on one occasion and the other on another—if both are authentically established from him. Combining them is therefore not Sunnah, but an innovation, even if it is permissible.