I saw ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar crossing his legs while sitting in the prayer and I, a mere youngster in those days, did the same. Ibn ʿUmar forbade me to do so, and said, "The proper way is to keep the right foot propped up and bend the left in the prayer." I said questioningly, "But you are doing so (crossing the legs)." He said, "My feet cannot bear my weight."
أَنْ تَنْصِبَ رِجْلَكَ الْيُمْنَى وَتَثْنِيَ الْيُسْرَى فَقُلْتُ إِنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رِجْلَىَّ لاَ تَحْمِلاَنِي
I saw ʿAbdullah bin ʿUmar crossing his legs while sitting in the prayer and I, a mere youngster in those days, did the same. Ibn ʿUmar forbade me to do so, and said, "The proper way is to keep the right foot propped up and bend the left in the prayer." I said questioningly, "But you are doing so (crossing the legs)." He said, "My feet cannot bear my weight." (Using translation from Bukhārī 827)
أَنْ تَنْصِبَ رِجْلَكَ الْيُمْنَى وَتَثْنِيَ الْيُسْرَى فَقُلْتُ إِنَّكَ تَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ؟ فَقَالَ إِنَّ رِجْلِيَّ لَا تَحْمِلَانِي