Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “He who eats garlic or onions must keep away from us.” Or he said, “must keep away from our mosque,” or, “must sit in his house.” A pot containing green vegetables was brought to the Prophet, but on noticing that it had an odour he told them to give it to one of his Companions, to whom he said, "Eat, for I hold intimate converse with one with whom you do not."**The reference is here said to be to angels, or particularly to Gabriel. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 373(Bukhari and Muslim.)
Commentary on the Prohibition of Odorous Foods
This noble hadith from the Book of Foods in Mishkat al-Masabih (Reference: Mishkat al-Masabih 4197) contains profound wisdom regarding proper conduct in Islamic gatherings. The prohibition against consuming garlic and onions before attending the mosque stems from the principle of avoiding harm to fellow worshippers through offensive odors that may distract from devotion.
Scholarly Interpretation
The command to "keep away from our mosque" indicates the importance of maintaining the sanctity of places of worship and showing consideration for others' comfort during congregational prayers. The Prophet's refusal to eat the odorous vegetables demonstrates his special relationship with the angelic realm.
As explained in Mirqat al-Mafatih, the intimate converse refers specifically to Angel Gabriel, who regularly visited the Prophet with divine revelation. Strong odors are displeasing to angels, hence the Prophet's abstention despite the permissibility of the food itself.
Practical Application
This teaching establishes the etiquette of avoiding foods causing bad breath before communal prayers while affirming the reality of angelic presence in mosques. The ruling applies particularly when the odor is strong enough to disturb others, with scholars noting that cooked onions and garlic produce less offensive odors than raw ones.