5/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 561a — Keep the Mosque Free from Garlic Odor
Prohibiting one who has eaten garlic, onions, or leeks, and other things that have an offensive odor from coming to the masjid, until that smell has gone away, and such a person should be expelled from the masjid
Hadith About Garlic and Mosque Manners: A Lesson in Clean Worship
Sahih Muslim : 561a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 561a
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، وَزُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، - وَهُوَ الْقَطَّانُ - عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي نَافِعٌ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ فِي غَزْوَةِ خَيْبَرَ " مَنْ أَكَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ - يَعْنِي الثُّومَ - فَلاَ يَأْتِيَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ " . قَالَ زُهَيْرٌ فِي غَزْوَةٍ . وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ خَيْبَرَ .
Ibn 'Umar Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said during the battle of Khaybar: He who ate of this plant, i. e. garlic, should not come to the mosques. In the narration of Zubair, there is only a mention of" battle" and not of Khaybar.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 561aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 86USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1141
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 561a
This hadith about garlic and mosque manners gives a clear lesson about care for others in a place of prayer. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said during the battle of Khaybar that whoever ate garlic should not come to the mosques. The focus is not on blaming someone for eating food. The text speaks about the effect of the smell when a person joins others in worship. People stand close in prayer, listen, and share the same space. A strong odor can disturb them. So the hadith teaches simple masjid etiquette: before coming to the mosque, a person should think about how his presence affects others. The report also notes a wording difference, where one narration mentions only a battle and not Khaybar, which shows careful transmission of the wording.
What we learn from this hadith
- A worshipper should avoid bringing a strong garlic smell into the mosque.
- The mosque gathering should be kept pleasant for people who pray there.
- Eating garlic is mentioned, but the text focuses on staying away until the smell is gone.
