Does the multiplicity of wordings of a single Hadith, while the meaning remains the same, such that narrators differ in its narration (like Muslim from Bukhari), mean that the Companions transmitted the Hadith by meaning and not by literal wording, or that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah’s prayers and peace be upon him, narrated it with different wordings? And why can two narrations of the same Hadith be authentic despite a single word differing between them?

The multiplicity of the wordings of a hadith does not weaken it as long as the narrator is trustworthy and precise. This is because it is possible that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned it with different wordings on multiple occasions, or that the narrator conveyed the hadith by its meaning, or that an additional wording was heard by one narrator but not by others. An addition by a trustworthy and حافظ (preserver/memorizer) narrator is acceptable if it does not contradict what others have narrated. However, if it contradicts and the narrations conflict, then a process of weighing them (tarjih) is resorted to. Imam Ibn al-Salah explained that the narration of a hadith by a single trustworthy narrator is acceptable if it does not contradict what others have narrated, and likewise for the addition of a wording.