5/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 564a — Onion, Leek, and Masjid Etiquette
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 Onion and Garlic in the Mosque: Protecting the Prayer Space
Sahih Muslim : 564a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 564a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا كَثِيرُ بْنُ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ هِشَامٍ الدَّسْتَوَائِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ جَابِرٍ، قَالَ نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ أَكْلِ الْبَصَلِ وَالْكُرَّاثِ . فَغَلَبَتْنَا الْحَاجَةُ فَأَكَلْنَا مِنْهَا فَقَالَ " مَنْ أَكَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الشَّجَرَةِ الْمُنْتِنَةِ فَلاَ يَقْرَبَنَّ مَسْجِدَنَا فَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تَأَذَّى مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى مِنْهُ الإِنْسُ " .
Jabir Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade eating of onions and leek. When we were overpowered by a desire (to eat) we ate them. Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: He who eats of this offensive plant must not approach our mosque, for the angels are harmed by the same things as men.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 564aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 90USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1145
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 564a
This hadith about onions, leek, garlic, and mosque manners expands the lesson beyond garlic alone. Jabir reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم forbade eating onions and leek. When the Companions felt a strong need and ate from them, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that whoever eats from this offensive plant should not approach the mosque. The text then gives a deeper reason: angels are harmed by the same things that harm people. The teaching remains tied to the unpleasant smell named in the report. It is not a call to be harsh with food choices. It is a reminder that worship spaces should be protected from smells that disturb both human worshippers and, as the hadith states, the angels.
What we learn from this hadith
- Offensive smells should not be brought into the mosque.
- The hadith mentions onions, leek, and an unpleasant plant smell.
- Angels are harmed by what harms people, as stated in the text.
- Need may lead someone to eat, but mosque manners still remain.
