Al-Bayhaqi transmits from Humayd: “I saw Anas ibn Malik praying while seated cross-legged on his bed.” The isnad is sound according to the criteria of both Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Hajar notes: “Al-Bukhari cites it in suspended (muʿallaq) form.” Al-Shawkani (3/71) comments: “This hadith indicates that the recommended posture for someone who prays sitting is to sit cross-legged. This is the view of Abu Hanifah, Malik, and Ahmad, and one of the two positions reported from al-Shafi‘i. In his other opinion, al-Shafi‘i preferred the iftirash posture, like the sitting between the two prostrations, while the author of al-Nihayah quotes some Hanafis as favoring the tawarruk posture. The disagreement concerns what is most meritorious; all concur that the worshipper may choose any seated posture he wishes.”