5/17. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 564c — Angels and Offensive Smells in the Masjid
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 Angels and Bad Smell in the Mosque
Sahih Muslim : 564c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 564c
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حَاتِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ جُرَيْجٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَطَاءٌ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ " مَنْ أَكَلَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَقْلَةِ الثُّومِ - وَقَالَ مَرَّةً مَنْ أَكَلَ الْبَصَلَ وَالثُّومَ وَالْكُرَّاثَ - فَلاَ يَقْرَبَنَّ مَسْجِدَنَا فَإِنَّ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ تَتَأَذَّى مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى مِنْهُ بَنُو آدَمَ " .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: He who eats of this (offensive) plant, i. e garlic, and sometimes he said: He who eats onion and garlic and leek, should not approach our mosque for the angels are harmed by the same things as the children of Adam.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 564cIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 92USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1147
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 564c
This hadith about onion, garlic, and leek before mosque attendance joins several reports into one clear teaching. Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم spoke about eating garlic, and at another time mentioned onion, garlic, and leek. The instruction was that such a person should not approach the mosque. The reason given is that the angels are harmed by the same things that harm the children of Adam. The words point to the offensive odor of these plants. The message is easy to understand: worship is not only about showing up. It also includes coming in a way that does not disturb others. The hadith gives Muslims a simple standard for public prayer manners.
What we learn from this hadith
- Onion, garlic, and leek are named in connection with mosque odor.
- Angels are harmed by what harms people, as stated in the hadith.
- Good mosque manners include avoiding smells that disturb others.
