our place of prayer" (2). And from Mikhnaf ibn Sulaym, that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "O people, every household must offer a sacrifice and an 'atirah (a ritual slaughter in Rajab) every year" (3). Our evidence is what al-Daraqutni narrated (4) with his chain of narration from Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet (peace be upon him), who said: "Three things were prescribed upon me, and for you they are voluntary." In one narration: "The Witr, the sacrifice, and the two rak'ahs of Fajr." Furthermore, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever wants to offer a sacrifice and the ten days (of Dhu al-Hijjah) have begun, let him not take anything from his hair or his skin." Narrated by Muslim (5). He tied it to the 'desire' (to offer a sacrifice), and an obligation is not tied to desire. Moreover, it is a sacrifice for which the distribution of its meat was not made mandatory, so it is not obligatory, like the 'aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn). As for their hadith, the scholars of hadith have weakened it; furthermore, we interpret it as a confirmation of recommendation, just as he said: "The Friday ghusl is obligatory for every pubescent person" (6), and he said: "Whoever eats from these two trees, let him not approach our place of prayer" (7). It has been narrated from Ahmad, regarding the orphan: His guardian should sacrifice on his behalf if he is wealthy. This is by way of expansion during the day of Eid, not by way of obligation.

Section: The sacrifice is better than charity equal to its value. Ahmad explicitly stated this. This was also the view of Rabi'ah and Abu al-Zinad. It was narrated from Bilal that he said: I do not care if I do not sacrifice anything but a rooster, and that I place its value with an orphan