Ruling on sitting, resting on the heel of the left hand behind one’s back
Question

                I have a question about a hadith in the book Riyadh as-Saaliheen. It was narrated that ash- Shareed ibn as-Suwayd said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) passed by me when I was sitting like this: I had put my left hand behind me and I was leaning on the heel of my hand. He said: “Are you sitting in the manner of those with whom Allah is angry?” Narrated by Abu Dawood. Is this hadith saheeh? Is it also haraam to sit resting on the palm of the left hand or is that makrooh? I hope that you will advise me, quoting the views of the scholars.
Praise be to Allah.
    Firstly: 

    This hadith is saheeh. it was narrated by Ahmad (18960), Abu 
    Dawood (4848), and Ibn Hibbaan in his Saheeh (5674). 

    It was classed as saheeh by al-Haakim, and adh-Dhahabi agreed 
    with him. It was also classed as saheeh by an-Nawawi in 
    Riyadh as-Saaliheen 
    (1/437); Ibn Muflih in al-Adaab ash-Shar‘iyyah (3/288); and al-Albaani 
    in Saheeh Abi Dawood. 

    At-Teebi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: What is meant by 
    those with whom Allah is angry is the Jews. From the description of them in 
    these terms we learn two things: firstly, that this manner of sitting is 
    something that Allah, may He be exalted, hates and, secondly, that the 
    Muslim is one of those whom Allah has blessed, so he should avoid resembling 
    those with whom Allah is angry and whom He has cursed. End quote. 

    Al-Qaari (may Allah have mercy on him) commented by saying: 

    The idea that what is meant here by “those with whom Allah is 
    angry” is the Jews is subject to further discussion; the validity of this 
    interpretation depends on whether this is something unique to them. What is 
    more likely to be the case is that what is meant by “those with whom Allah 
    is angry” is more general and includes the arrogant, conceited disbelievers 
    and evildoers, who show signs of self-admiration and pride in the manner in 
    which they sit, walk and so on.

    End quote from Mirqaat al-Mafaateeh (13/500). 

    Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) 
    said: 

    It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with 
    him) that he saw a man leaning on his left hand when he was sitting during 
    the prayer. He said to him: Do not sit like that, for this is how those who 
    are punished sit. According to another report: That is the way in which 
    those with whom Allah is angry pray. According to yet another report, the 
    Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade anyone 
    to sit during the prayer leaning on his hand. All of that was narrated by 
    Abu Dawood. 

    This hadith indicates that it is not allowed to sit in this 
    manner, for the reason that it is the way in which those who are punished 
    sit. This is a more effective way of saying that one should avoid their 
    practices. 

    End quote from Iqtida’ as-Siraat al-Mustaqeem (p. 65) 

    Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: 

    Some of the scholars said that it is not permissible for a 
    man to rest on the heel of his left hand. Shaykh al-Islam said that the 
    Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) passed by a man who was 
    leaning on his left hand whilst praying, and he (blessings and peace of 
    Allah be upon him) said to him: “This is the manner of sitting of those with 
    whom Allah is angry.” Does this apply only to this action – leaning on the 
    left hand – whilst praying, or is it applicable in all circumstances? 

    He replied: 

    Yes, there is a hadith in which the Prophet (blessings and 
    peace of Allah be upon him) denounced that. What appears to be the case is 
    that it is general in application and includes prayer and other 
    circumstances, if one is leaning on the left hand and leaning on the heel of 
    the hand, like this. The apparent meaning of the hadith is that this is not 
    allowed.

    End quote. Majmoo‘ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (25/161) 

    If a person wants to lean back, then he should lean on the 
    heel of his right hand, not his left, or he should lean on both of his hands 
    together. 

    Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

    This manner of sitting was described by the Prophet 
    (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) as being the manner of sitting of 
    those with whom Allah is angry. As for placing both hands behind one’s back 
    and leaning on them both, there is nothing wrong with that, or if he leans 
    on his right hand, there is nothing wrong with it. Rather that which the 
    Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) described as the manner 
    of sitting of those with whom Allah is angry is placing the left hand behind 
    one’s back and placing the heel of the hand on the ground and leaning on it. 
    This is what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) 
    described as the manner of sitting of those with whom Allah is angry.

    End quote. Sharh Riyadh as-Saaliheen (p. 
    930)                         

    He also said:

    The meaning of the hadith is clear; it means that a person 
    should not lean on his left hand placing it behind him, placing the palm on 
    the ground. 

    The shaykh was asked: if a person’s intention in sitting in 
    this manner is to rest, and not to imitate the Jews, is he sinning by doing 
    that? 

    He replied: If that is his intention, then let him put the 
    right hand with it, then the prohibition will no longer apply.

    End quote. Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb (111/19) 

    Secondly:                 

    Some of the scholars described this manner of sitting as 
    makrooh. Abu Dawood included this hadith in his Sunan (12/480) in a 
    chapter entitled: Chapter on disliked manners of sitting. 

    Ibn Muflih (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

    It is makrooh for anyone to lean on his left hand, placing it 
    behind his back.

    End quote. Al-Adaab ash-Shar‘iyyah (3/288) 

    Something similar was also stated by as-Safaareeni in 
    Ghidha’ al-Albaab (6/76) 

    Shaykh ‘Abd al-Muhsin al-‘Abbaad said: 

    It may be that what is meant by makrooh here is that it is 
    haraam, or it may mean that it is disliked. But the fact that in this hadith 
    this manner of sitting is described as the manner of sitting of those with 
    whom Allah is angry indicates that it is haraam. End quote.

    Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood 
    (28/49) 

    To sum up:

    It is not allowed to sit in this manner in prayer or 
    otherwise, regardless of whether or not the intention is to imitate those 
    with whom Allah is angry of the Jews and other arrogant people. The fact 
    that this manner of sitting is described as the manner of sitting of those 
    with whom Allah is angry and of those who are punished indicates that the 
    view that it is haraam is stronger than the view that it is makrooh. 

    And Allah knows best.