What is the status of the following narration and does it prove that it’s a Sunnah to eat liver of the Qurbani animal first?
كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْفِطْرِ لَمْ يَخْرُجْ حَتَّى يَأْكُلَ شَيْئًا، وَإِذَا كَانَ الأَضْحَى لَمْ يَأْكُلْ شَيْئًا حَتَّى يَرْجِعَ، وَكَانَ إِذَا رَجَعَ أَكَلَ مِنْ كَبِدِ أُضْحِيَّتِهِ
Answer
Yes, it does.
Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded this narration on the authority of Sayyiduna Buraydah (radiyallahu’anhu).
(Sunanul Kubra, vol.3 pg.283)
Hafiz Ibnul Qattan (rahimahullah) has declared it as authentic (sahih)
(Bayanul Wahmi wal Iham, Hadith: 2531. Also see: Nasbur Rayah, Hadith: 2796 and Talkhisul Habir, vol.2 pg.84)
Imams Tirmidhi, Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Hakim (rahimahumullah) have also cited a shorter version.
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 542, Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, Hadith: 1426, Sahih Ibn Hibban, Hadith: 2812, Mustadrak Hakim, vol.1 pg.294)
Translation
Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) would not go for the ‘Eidul Fitr salah without eating something. On the day of ‘Eidul Adha, he would not eat anything until he returned [from the ‘Eid Salah], then he would eat the liver of his animal of slaughter.
In light of these narrations the Fuqaha (Jurists) have ruled it preferable (mustahabb) to let the first thing one eats on ‘Eidul Adha be from one’s animal of sacrifice.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar,
Those who assign their animals to be slaughtered by some far off farmer or abroad, and do not slaughter their animals themselves, or under their personal supervision, or locally, are actually deprived of this deed…
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar