Delaying Prayer After Eating Onions or Garlic
Question: what is the ruling on delaying the prayer after eating food that contains onions? Is this hadith authentic or fabricated? And if it is authentic, how long should the prayer be delayed? What if the time for prayer is not enough to delay it, such as Maghrib prayer? Can one clean the teeth instead of delaying? Does the ruling include all foods with a foul smell or only onions? If the mosque holds an ifṭār or a meal and the food contains onions, should the congregational prayer be delayed?
Summary:
• Delaying prayer due to the smell of onions or garlic is recommended, and one should ensure the smell has gone before praying. • If time is short, like in Maghrib prayer, practical methods like brushing the teeth can be used to reduce the smell and perform the prayer on time. • The ruling is not limited to onions, but applies to any food with a foul smell that may disturb others. • There is no need to delay the congregational prayer if the smell has been removed or if time is too short. • The hadith mainly concerns prayer in the mosque with the congregation, not praying alone at home. We ask Allah to grant us all success in what He loves and is pleased with, and to make us among those who honor His symbols.
Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, and upon his family, companions, and those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.
The ruling on delaying prayer after eating food that contains onions:
The hadith related to delaying prayer due to eating food that has a foul smell, such as onions, is authentic in meaning but not in the absolute sense of delaying the prayer. For it was reported in the authentic hadith from the Prophet ﷺ that he said:
From the Sunnah:
- Sahih Muslim: 564Narrated by Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from us or from our mosque and stay in his house.”
This hadith indicates that the smell of garlic and onions harms the worshippers. Therefore, the Prophet ﷺ instructed the one who ate garlic or onion to avoid the mosque or congregational prayer until the smell disappears.
How long should the prayer be delayed: The hadith does not specify a particular duration for delay. Rather, the purpose is to ensure that the smell has disappeared before the Muslim prays with the congregation. Thus, there is no specific time one must stick to, but it is necessary to make sure that he does not cause discomfort to other worshippers. Therefore, one can delay the prayer until the smell goes away, or clean the teeth or use other means to reduce the odor. What if the time for prayer is too short to delay: If the time is tight, such as for Maghrib prayer, and it is not possible to delay the prayer for long, then it is preferred to clean the teeth or use a miswāk or rinse the mouth to reduce the smell as quickly as possible. If there is not enough time to catch the congregation, there is no harm in praying with them on time. Ultimately, a Muslim should strive to uphold the etiquettes of prayer in the mosque. Can the teeth be cleaned instead of delaying: Yes, the teeth can be cleaned using the miswāk or toothbrush and paste to reduce the odor caused by onions or garlic. This is a practical solution encouraged by the Sunnah. It is authentically reported that the Prophet ﷺ loved the miswāk and used it to purify the mouth. Does the ruling include all foul-smelling foods or only onions: The ruling in the hadith applies specifically to garlic and onions, as the Prophet ﷺ prohibited entering the mosque after consuming these due to their smell. However, if there is any other food that has a foul smell and disturbs other worshippers, then it is recommended to avoid entering the mosque until the smell is gone. If the mosque holds an ifṭār or meal and the food contains onions, should the congregational prayer be delayed: If the food contains onions and it is necessary to delay the prayer in order to get rid of the smell, then a person should take into consideration the sanctity of the congregational prayer. However, if the situation does not allow delaying the prayer for long, then cleaning the teeth or using tools to reduce the smell is sufficient, or one may pray immediately with the congregation. The hadith narrated by Muslim in his Ṣaḥīḥ: “Whoever eats garlic or onion should keep away from us or from our mosque and stay in his house.” indicates that if a Muslim eats garlic or onion and their smell harms the worshippers, then he must stay away from congregational prayer in the mosque. Is the ruling specific to congregational prayer only: Yes, the ruling in the hadith is related to prayer in the mosque with the congregation. The Prophet ﷺ instructed the one who consumed garlic or onion to avoid the mosque because of their smell that may disturb worshippers during congregational prayer. Does this apply to praying alone at home: No, this hadith is specific to prayer in the mosque with the congregation. The person who is praying at home alone or in a place away from worshippers is not bound by this ruling, and he does not need to avoid praying at home because of consuming garlic or onion. Clarification: • In the mosque with the congregation: If a person ate garlic or onion, he must stay away from the congregation in the mosque until the smell goes away. • In the home or while praying alone: The one who is praying at home or alone is not required to follow this ruling. It is still permissible for him to pray at home, as he is not disturbing anyone with the smell of food.
And Allah knows best.
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