This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqah, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
Some people deliberately delay the sacrifice and slaughter on the thirteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah, giving the impression that since this day is also included in the days of sacrifice and people have abandoned sacrificing on this day, therefore, they perform this act to revive a neglected Sunnah. However, sacrificing on the fourth day is not established as Sunnah at all, so how can it be a neglected Sunnah? In fact, the days of sacrifice are three days (10th, 11th, and 12th) of Dhu al-Hijjah. The thirteenth of Dhu al-Hijjah is not included in the days of sacrifice, as has been explained in detail under the title: (Explanation of the Days of Sacrifice).
The initial time for sacrifice is after the Eid prayer. Sacrifice is permissible after completing the Eid prayer, and it is forbidden to sacrifice before the Eid prayer. Moreover, if one sacrifices before the Eid prayer, the sacrifice is not accepted. The evidences are as follows:
① It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
إن أول ما نبدأ به فى يومنا هذا أن نصلي ثم نرجع فننحر، فمن فعل هذا فقد أصاب سنتنا، ومن نحر فإنما يقدمه لأهله ليس من النسك فى شيء
"Indeed! The first thing we will begin with on this day (Eid al-Adha) is to perform the prayer, then we will return and offer the sacrifice. Whoever does this has followed our Sunnah, and whoever slaughters an animal before the Eid prayer, he is merely offering meat to his family (prematurely) and it will not be considered a sacrifice."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Slaughtering after Prayer: 5560 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Its Time: 1961 - Sunan Abi Dawood, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: What is Permissible from Sacrifices: 2800
② It is narrated from Sayyiduna Bara bin Azib (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
من صلى صلاتنا، ووجه قبلتنا، ونسك نسكنا، فلا يذبح حتى يصلي
"Whoever prays our prayer, faces our Qiblah, and sacrifices like our sacrifice, should not slaughter an animal before the prayer."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Whoever Slaughters before the Prayer Should Repeat It: 5563 - Sahih Muslim, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: Its Time: 1961
③ It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
من ذبح قبل الصلاة فإنما ذبح لنفسه، ومن ذبح بعد الصلاة فقد تم نسكه وأصاب سنة المسلمين
"Whoever slaughters before the Eid prayer has merely slaughtered an animal for himself, and whoever slaughters after the Eid prayer, his sacrifice is valid and he has followed the Sunnah of the Muslims."
Reference: Sahih Bukhari, Book of Sacrifices, Chapter: The Sunnah of Sacrifice: 5546 - Sunan Bayhaqi 272/9 -
Benefits:
① Ibn Battal, may Allah have mercy on him, states that the hadiths of this chapter are evidence that it is Sunnah to slaughter the sacrifice after the Eid prayer.
Reference: Sharh Ibn Battal: 20/11
② The person who slaughters the animal before the Eid prayer, his sacrifice will not be accepted; the sacrifice is only accepted from the person who slaughters the animal after the Eid prayer.
③ Slaughtering the sacrificial animal before the Eid prayer is prohibited and contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet and the practice of the Muslims, therefore it should be avoided.
