Chapter 311 - Undesirability of Entering the Masjid after Eating raw Onion or Garlic

Ibn `Umar (Radhi Allahu Huma) said: The Prophet said,

"He who has eaten garlic should not come to our Masjid.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Muslim is: "He who has eaten garlic should not come to our Masjids.''

Anas said: The Prophet said,

"He who has eaten from this plant (i.e., garlic) should not approach us and should not offer Salat (prayer) along with us.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Jabir said: The Prophet said,

"He who has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from us or our Masjids.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

The narration in Muslim is: "He who has eaten onion or garlic or leek should not approach our Masjid, because the angels are also offended by the strong smells) that offend the children of Adam.'' [Muslim].


Commentary: It is not permissible to eat raw onions, garlic or anything with a strong offending smell before going to the Masjid. It is permissible, however, to eat them after their strong odour has vanished as a result of cooking or boiling. Since their odour vanishes after cooking, their use is permissible in cooked form.

It has been narrated that `Umar said in the sermon of Friday prayer: "O you people! You eat garlic and onion. I think the odour of these to be very offensive. I saw that if the Messenger of Allah happened to find a man with such offensive odour in the Masjid, he would order him to be taken out of the Masjid and sent to Al-Baqi`. He who wants to eat any of these, should cook them till their odour dies out. [Muslim].


Commentary:

1. Khabith generally means impure, base and wicked, but it is also used in the sense of Haram (unlawful), that is for eatables which are forbidden or which have an unpleasant and disgusting smell. Garlic, onion etc., are Khabith in their raw form and Muslims have been prohibited from going to the Masjid after eating them.

One can, however, eat them in their cooked form. One can also use them when the time to go to Masjid for Salat is not very near. We also learn from this Hadith that one should not eat any such odorous thing when he has to go to the Masjid or Madrasah or any congregation for some religious purpose because it will be repulsive for the people present there. Their eating is, however, permissible even in their raw form, if one is not going to the Masjid for Salat.

2. We also learn from this Hadith that Masjids should be kept free from every kind of filth and odorous things. There is no justification for the construction of toilets in the premises of Masjid. Masjids which have toilets within their compounds must be divested of the toilets to purge them of the unclean environments.