The Garlic

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about garlic. He (the Imam) said, ‘The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, prohibited it only because of its smell, saying, “Whoever eats this filthy vegetable must not come near our Masjid, however, for those who eat it and do not come to the Masjid it is not unlawful.’””

“Once abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), was asked about garlic, onion and leek. He (the Imam) said, ‘Eating them is not unlawful and in cooking pots, or for treating illnesses with garlic, however, if anyone of you eats it he must not go out to Masjid.’”

“I completed the acts of al-Hajj or ‘Umrah, I passed by al-Madinah and asked about abu Ja’far (a.s.). He said that he (the Imam) is in Yanbu’. I then went there and he (the Imam) asked, ‘O Hassan, have you come walking here?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I disliked leaving without visiting you.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘I had eaten this vegetable, that is, garlic, so I wanted to keep away from the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause”’