8/17. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 708 — Odor Etiquette
The One To Be Taken Out Of The Masjid
Hadith About Onion, Garlic, and Masjid Cleanliness
Sunan an-Nasai : 708
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 708
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا قَتَادَةُ، عَنْ سَالِمِ بْنِ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ، عَنْ مَعْدَانَ بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ إِنَّكُمْ أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ تَأْكُلُونَ مِنْ شَجَرَتَيْنِ مَا أُرَاهُمَا إِلاَّ خَبِيثَتَيْنِ هَذَا الْبَصَلُ وَالثُّومُ وَلَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا وَجَدَ رِيحَهُمَا مِنَ الرَّجُلِ أَمَرَ بِهِ فَأُخْرِجَ إِلَى الْبَقِيعِ فَمَنْ أَكَلَهُمَا فَلْيُمِتْهُمَا طَبْخًا .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
O people, you eat of two plants which I do not think are anything but bad, this onion and garlic. I have seen the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ), if he noticed their smell coming from a man, ordering that he be taken out to Al-Baqi'. Whoever eats them, let him cook them to death.
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 708In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 21English translation : Vol. 1, Book 8, Hadith 709
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 708
This hadith about onion and garlic in the masjid records Umar bin Al-Khattab speaking to the people. He said they ate two plants that he viewed as bad in that setting: onion and garlic. He then described what he had seen from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: when the Prophet noticed their smell from a man, he ordered that the man be taken out to Al-Baqi. Umar then gave practical guidance: whoever eats them should cook them thoroughly. The main point is not a general food rule in this wording. It is about strong smells affecting the Masjid and the people in it, with cooking mentioned as a way to reduce the odor.
What we learn from this hadith
- Strong smells should be removed before coming near worshippers.
- Umar based his reminder on what he saw from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- Cooking onion and garlic well is mentioned as a practical step.
- The Masjid should be kept comfortable for those who gather there.
