his left leg upright, bracing his hand against it.

– Al-Balkhī, when he wished to shoot at close range, would sit on his right side, raise his left knee, and draw it toward his left. For long-range shots he would sit on his left side, lift his right knee, and brace his hand against it. They claim that with this method he could shoot five hundred cubits.

– ʿAbd Allāh ibn Zayd used to sit on his feet, set both knees upright, and, once steady, rest his buttocks on the ground. This posture is arduous.

– Another group sits on the right leg and keeps the left leg erect; this stance is well suited to shooting while armed.

– Al-Ṭabarī said: “I saw some of them kneel(1) on both knees and shoot. One master would sit on his left knee, leaving the right apart, and shoot from behind his knees(2). This technique is attributed to(3) al-Kāghadī.”

– Master Abū Mūsā, by contrast, would stand upright opposite the target cloth with his feet level and touching. He would then draw the left foot back, sit on its heel, press the instep of the right foot against the left knee, and have his right knee pointing to the rear.