This excerpt is taken from Sheikh Farooq Rafi Sahib's book Qurbani, Aqiqa, and Ashra Zil-Hijjah.
In the previous discussion, we have proven that sacrifice (Qurbani) is a confirmed Sunnah, not obligatory. This ruling is general without any specification, and like the general Muslims, sacrifice was also recommended (mustahabb) for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, not obligatory. However, some narrations state that sacrifice was obligatory for the Prophet ﷺ and recommended for the general Muslims, but all such narrations are unreliable and unproven. Below we present some narrations:
① Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما reports that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
ثلاث هن على فرائض و هن لكم تطوع : النحر، والوتر، و ركعتا الضحى
"Three things, sacrifice, Witr, and the two Rak'ahs of Duha (forenoon prayer) are obligatory on me but not obligatory on you."
Reference: Weak: Musnad Ahmad: 231/1 - Mustadrak Hakim: 441/1. Sunan Dar Qutni: 1650. Abu Jundub Yahya bin Abi Hayyah is weak and a fabricator.
② Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas رضي الله عنهما narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
أمرت بركعتي الضحى و لم تؤمروا بها، وأمرت بالأضحى و لم تكتب
"I have been commanded to perform the two Rak'ahs of Duha prayer, but you have not been commanded to do so, and I have been commanded to sacrifice but it is not obligatory upon you."
Reference: Weak: Musnad Ahmad: 317/1, 232/1. Jabir bin Yazid Jufi is a weak narrator.
③ Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
أمرت بالوتر والأضحى، ولم يعزم علي
"I have been commanded regarding Witr and sacrifice, but they have not been made obligatory upon me."
Reference: Very weak: Musannaf Abdul Razzaq: 4572 - Sunan Dar Qutni: 21/2 - Da'if al-Jami': 1260. Abdullah bin Muharrir al-Jazari is a abandoned narrator.
