I say: However, the hadith is authentic on account of corroborating evidence, for it has numerous supporting reports:

First: Ibn ʿUmar said: “I saw the Prophet in the courtyard of the Kaʿbah, sitting with his knees drawn up and clasped with his hand, like this.” It was recorded by al-Bukhārī (4/179) and al-Bayhaqī (3/235), who added: “Abū Ḥātim clasped his hands together.” See also al-Fatḥ (11/56).

Second: Ibn ʿAbbās said: “I spent a night at the home of my maternal aunt Maymūnah...” He then mentioned the Prophet’s night prayer and said: “He prayed eleven rakʿahs, then sat with his knees drawn up until I could hear his breathing as he slept. When dawn became clear to him, he prayed two light rakʿahs.” Recorded by Muslim (1/528/185, ʿAbd al-Bāqī’s edition).

Third: Jābir ibn Sulaym said: “I came to the Prophet while he was sitting with his knees drawn up, wrapped in a cloak whose fringe had fallen over his feet.” It was recorded by al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1182), Abū Dāwūd (4075), al-Bayhaqī (3/236), and Aḥmad (5/63), through two chains from him.

Fourth: Abū Hurayrah reported: “One day the Prophet went out and found me in the mosque. He took me by the hand, and I went with him until we came to the market of Banū Qaynuqāʿ ... Then he returned, and I was with him, until we came to the mosque. He sat down and drew up his knees...” The hadith. It was recorded by al-Bukhārī in al-Adab al-Mufrad (1183) and Aḥmad (2/532), and its chain of transmission is good.