Food & Eating

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَمِلْتُ عَلَى الْهِنْدَبَاءِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا حَنَانُ لِمَ لَا تَأْكُلُ الْكُرَّاثَ قُلْتُ لِمَا جَاءَ عَنْكُمْ مِنَ الرِّوَايَةِ فِي الْهِنْدَبَاءِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنَّا قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ قِيلَ عَنْكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ قُلْتُمْ إِنَّهُ يُقَطَّرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ قَطْرَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ ع فَعَلَى الْكُرَّاثِ إِذَنْ سَبْعُ قَطَرَاتٍ قُل

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), around the table-spread of food. I reached for the endives and he (the Imam) said to me, ‘O Hanan, why do you not eat leeks?’ I replied, ‘It is because of what is narrated from you in the Hadith about endives.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What is narrated about it from us?’ I repl

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَأْكُلُ الْكُرَّاثَ بِالْمِلْحِ الْجَرِيشِ‌[1].

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would eat leeks with not so finely powdered salt.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْكَرَفْسِ فَإِنَّهُ طَعَامُ إِلْيَاسَ وَ الْيَسَعِ وَ يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ.

‘You must eat celery because it is the food of Elias, al-Yasa‘ and Usha‘ ibn Nun (names of Israelite prophets).”’

ذَكَرَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع الْكَرَفْسَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ تَشْتَهُونَهُ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا وَ هِيَ تَحْتَكُّ بِهِ‌[3].

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once mentioned celery and said, ‘You desire to eat celery and there is no living thing that does not rub against it.’” (It can be for or against it depending on if, they rub for cure or to leave poison).

أَكْلُ التُّفَّاحِ وَ الْكُزْبُرَةِ يُورِثُ النِّسْيَانَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ’Eating apple and coriander causes forgetfulness.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَيْسَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ بَقْلَةٌ أَشْرَفُ وَ لَا أَنْفَعُ مِنَ الْفَرْفَخِ وَ هُوَ بَقْلَةُ فَاطِمَةَ ع ثُمَّ قَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ هُمْ سَمَّوْهَا بَقْلَةَ الْحَمْقَاءِ بُغْضاً لَنَا وَ عَدَاوَةً لِفَاطِمَةَ ع.

’On the face of earth there is no herb more beneficial and graceful than al-Farfakh (purslane) and it is the herb of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam .’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘May Allah condemn banu ’Umayyah who named it foolish herb due to their animosity toward Fatimah, Alayhi al-Salam.’”

وَطِئَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الرَّمْضَاءَ فَأَحْرَقَتْهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى الرِّجْلَةِ وَ هِيَ الْبَقْلَةُ الْحَمْقَاءُ فَسَكَنَ عَنْهُ حَرُّ الرَّمْضَاءِ فَدَعَا لَهَا وَ كَانَ يُحِبُّهَا ص وَ يَقُولُ مِنْ بَقْلَةٍ مَا أَبْرَكَهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that once the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, set foot on a sun- baked ground which burned him. He (the Messenger of Allah) then set foot on purslane and it calmed down the heat and he (the Mess

عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْخَسِ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُ يُصَفِّي الدَّمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must eat lettuce because it cleanses blood.’”

السَّدَابُ‌[3] يَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Sadab (Rue herb of grace) increases the power of understanding.’”

ذُكِرَ السَّدَابُ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ فِيهِ مَنَافِعَ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْعَقْلِ وَ تَوْفِيرٌ فِي الدِّمَاغِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُنَتِّنُ مَاءَ الظَّهْرِ. - وَ رُوِيَ‌ أَنَّهُ جَيِّدٌ لِوَجَعِ الْأُذُنِ.

“Abu Ja’far, or abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, -uncertainty is from Muhammad ibn Musa- has said, ‘Once al-Sadab was mentioned and He (the Imam) said, ‘There are benefits in it. It increases the power of understanding, increases in the brain except that it putrefies one’s back’s water.’ It is narrated that it is very

مَا تَضْلَعُ‌[2] الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْجِرْجِيرِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ فَبَاتَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ إِلَّا وَ نَفْسُهُ تُنَازِعُهُ إِلَى الْجُذَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one fills himself up with watercress after performing Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’ he will spend the night while his soul invites him to leprosy. 5 ”

مَنْ أَكَلَ الْجِرْجِيرَ بِاللَّيْلِ ضَرَبَ عَلَيْهِ عِرْقُ الْجُذَامِ مِنْ أَنْفِهِ وَ بَاتَ يُنْزَفُ‌[3] الدَّمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one eats watercress during the night the vein of leprosy will hit him from his nose and blood will flow thereof.”’

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْبَقْلِ الْهِنْدَبَاءِ وَ الْبَاذَرُوجِ وَ الْجِرْجِيرِ فَقَالَ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ وَ الْبَاذَرُوجُ لَنَا وَ الْجِرْجِيرُ لِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ.

“Once, a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about endives, sweet basil and watercress. He (the Imam) said, ‘Endives and sweet basil are for us and watercress is for banu ’Umayyah.’”

كَانَ مَوْلَايَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِذَا أَمَرَ بِشِرَاءِ الْبَقْلِ يَأْمُرُ بِالْإِكْثَارِ مِنْهُ وَ مِنَ الْجِرْجِيرِ فَيُشْتَرَى لَهُ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ ع مَا أَحْمَقَ بَعْضَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ يَنْبُتُ فِي وَادٍ فِي جَهَنَّمَ وَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَ الْحِجارَةُ فَكَيْفَ تَنْبُتُ الْبَقْلُ.

“When my master ordered buying herbs he ordered quite a large amount and also watercress. It then would have been purchased for him and he (the Imam) would say, ‘How dimwitted certain people are when they say that it grows in a valley of hell and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Its fuel is people and stones

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ رَفَعَ عَنِ الْيَهُودِ الْجُذَامَ بِأَكْلِهِمُ السِّلْقَ وَ قَلْعِهِمُ الْعُرُوقَ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, removed leprosy from Jews because of their eating beets and their cutting the veins.’”

نِعْمَ الْبَقْلَةُ السِّلْقُ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘The white beet is a very good vegetable.’”

أَنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ شَكَوْا إِلَى مُوسَى ع مَا يَلْقَوْنَ مِنَ الْبَيَاضِ فَشَكَا ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ مُرْهُمْ بِأَكْلِ لَحْمِ الْبَقَرِ بِالسِّلْقِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that banu Israel complained before Musa (a.s.), because of whiteness (albinism ) they experienced and he complained about it before Allah, most Blessed, most High. Allah sent him revelation that said, ‘Command them to eat cow meat with beets.’”

أَطْعِمُوا مَرْضَاكُمُ السِّلْقَ يَعْنِي وَرَقَهُ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ شِفَاءً وَ لَا دَاءَ مَعَهُ وَ لَا غَائِلَةَ لَهُ وَ يُهْدِئُ نَوْمَ الْمَرِيضِ وَ اجْتَنِبُوا أَصْلَهُ فَإِنَّهُ يُهَيِّجُ السَّوْدَاءَ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Feed your patients beets, the leaves, because there is cure in it without illness or shock and it makes sleep of a patient more relaxing; but abstain from its roots because it stirs up al-Sawada ’ (a certain illness).”’

أَنَّ السِّلْقَ يَقْمَعُ عِرْقَ الْجُذَامِ وَ مَا دَخَلَ جَوْفَ الْمُبَرْسَمِ مِثْلُ وَرَقِ السِّلْقِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Beets uproot the vein of leprosy and no other thing is as beneficial as leaves of beets that enter the belly of one suffering from leprosy.’”

تْ‌ أَتَانِي أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلِيٌّ ع فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَأُتِيَ بِعَشَاءٍ وَ تَمْرٍ وَ كَمْأَةٍ فَأَكَلَ ع وَ كَانَ يُحِبُّ الْكَمْأَةَ.

“Once ’Amir al-Mu’minin, Ali (a.s.), in the month of Ramadan came to me. For dinner, he brought dates and truffles. He (the Imam) ate it and he liked truffles.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَ الْمَنُّ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ وَ مَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ‌[1].

‘The truffle is from Manna (honeydew, a kind of tree sap) which is from paradise and its water is cure for the eye.’”

الْقَرْعُ لَيْسَ يُذَكَّى فَكُلُوهُ وَ لَا تَذْبَحُوهُ وَ لَا يَسْتَهْوِيَنَّكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ لَعَنَهُ اللَّهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin was asked about squash if it needs to be slaughtered. He (the Imam) said, ‘Squash does not need slaughtering. Do not slaughter it and do not allow Satan, may Allah condemn him, to seduce you.’”

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص يُعْجِبُهُ الدُّبَّاءُ فِي الْقُدُورِ وَ هُوَ الْقَرْعُ‌[3].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liked calabash, gourd in the cooking pot. It is squash.”’

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص يُعْجِبُهُ الدُّبَّاءُ وَ يَلْتَقِطُهُ مِنَ الصَّحْفَةِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah liked gourd, calabash, and picked it up from the dish.’”

الدُّبَّاءُ يَزِيدُ فِي الدِّمَاغِ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad al-Shamiy from al-Husayn ibn Hanzalah who has said the following: “One of the two Imam, (abu Ja‘far or abu ‘Abd Allah), ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Gourd, squash increases al-Damagh (abil

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الدُّبَّاءُ يَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Squash, gourd increases power of reason.’”

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص يُعْجِبُهُ الدُّبَّاءُ وَ كَانَ يَأْمُرُ نِسَاءَهُ إِذَا طَبَخْنَ قِدْراً يُكْثِرْنَ مِنَ الدُّبَّاءِ وَ هُوَ الْقَرْعُ.

“The Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liked gourd and would order his wives to increase gourd when they cooked a dish. It is squash.”

كَانَ فِيمَا أَوْصَى بِهِ- رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص عَلِيّاً ع أَنَّهُ قَالَ لَهُ يَا عَلِيُّ عَلَيْكَ بِالدُّبَّاءِ فَكُلْهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِي الدِّمَاغِ وَ الْعَقْلِ.

‘Of the things about which the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, recommended Ali (a.s.), was his saying, ‘O Ali, you must eat gourd, squash; it increases, al-Damagh, the abilities of the brain and the power of reason.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ كُنْتُ مَعَهُ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَنَاوَلَنِي فُجْلَةً وَ قَالَ يَا حَنَانُ كُلِ الْفُجْلَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ وَرَقُهُ يَطْرُدُ الرِّيَاحَ وَ لُبُّهُ يُسَرْبِلُ الْبَوْلَ‌[2] وَ أَصْلُهُ يَقْطَعُ الْبَلْغَمَ. - وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى‌ وَرَقُهُ يُمْرِئُ.

when I was with him at the table of food, he gave me a piece of radish and said, ‘O Hanan, you must eat radish because there are three qualities in it; its leaves repel gas, its essence quickens urine, and its root cuts off phlegm.’ In another Hadith it is said that its leaves make it pleasant.”

الْفُجْلُ أَصْلُهُ يَقْطَعُ الْبَلْغَمَ وَ لُبُّهُ يَهْضِمُ وَ وَرَقُهُ يَحْدُرُ الْبَوْلَ حَدْراً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The essence, roots of radish cuts off phlegm, its core helps digest food and its leaves quicken urine fast.’”

أَكْلُ الْجَزَرِ يُسَخِّنُ الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ وَ يُقِيمُ الذَّكَرَ.

’Eating carrot warms up the kidneys and causes erection.”’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْجَزَرُ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْقُولَنْجِ وَ الْبَوَاسِيرِ وَ يُعِينُ عَلَى الْجِمَاعِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Carrot is protection against colic pain, hemorrhoid, and helps in going to bed with one’s wife.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ أَكْلُ الْجَزَرِ يُسَخِّنُ الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ وَ يَنْصِبُ الذَّكَرَ قَالَ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ آكُلُهُ وَ لَيْسَ لِي أَسْنَانٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي مُرِ الْجَارِيَةَ تَسْلُقُهُ وَ كُلْهُ‌[1].

’Eating carrot warms up the kidneys and causes erection.’ He (the narrator) has said that he asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, how should I eat it when I have no teeth?’ He (the Imam) said, ’Order the girl to boil it, then eat.’”

قَالَ الْعَبْدُ الصَّالِحُ ع‌ عَلَيْكَ بِاللِّفْتِ فَكُلْهُ يَعْنِي السَّلْجَمَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ لَهُ عِرْقٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ وَ اللِّفْتُ يُذِيبُهُ.

‘You must eat al-Luft, that is, turnips; everyone has a vein of leprosy and al-Luft dissolves it.’”

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ فِيهِ عِرْقٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ فَأَذِيبُوهُ بِالسَّلْجَمِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Everyone has a vein of leprosy, so you should dissolve it with turnips.’ ”

مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ بِهِ عِرْقٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ فَأَذِيبُوهُ بِأَكْلِ السَّلْجَمِ

“Abu al-Hassan or abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Everyone has a vein of leprosy so you should dissolve it with turnips.’”

عَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّلْجَمِ فَكُلُوهُ وَ أَدِيمُوا أَكْلَهُ وَ اكْتُمُوهُ إِلَّا عَنْ أَهْلِهِ فَمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ إِلَّا وَ بِهِ عِرْقٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ فَأَذِيبُوهُ بِأَكْلِهِ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must eat turnips and continue to do so. You must keep it a secret except from its people; all people have a vein of leprosy so you must dissolve it with turnips.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْكُلُ الْقِثَّاءَ بِالْمِلْحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, would eat cucumber with salt.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ إِذَا أَكَلْتُمُ الْقِثَّاءَ فَكُلُوهُ مِنْ أَسْفَلِهِ فَإِنَّهُ أَعْظَمُ لِبَرَكَتِهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘When you eat cucumber, eat it from the bottom because it is greater for blessing.”’

كُلُوا الْبَاذَنْجَانَ فَإِنَّهُ يُذْهِبُ الدَّاءَ وَ لَا دَاءَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Eat eggplant because it removes illnesses and does not cause any illness/”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع لِبَعْضِ قَهَارِمَتِهِ‌[2] اسْتَكْثِرُوا لَنَا مِنَ الْبَاذَنْجَانِ فَإِنَّهُ حَارٌّ فِي وَقْتِ الْحَرَارَةِ وَ بَارِدٌ فِي وَقْتِ الْبُرُودَةِ مُعْتَدِلٌ فِي الْأَوْقَاتِ كُلِّهَا جَيِّدٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Thalith (a.s.), would say to certain ones of his workers, ‘Bring more eggplant for us because it is warm in hot season and it is cool in cold season and it is balanced in all seasons. It is fine in all conditions/”

قَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَوَالِيهِ أَقْلِلْ لَنَا مِنَ الْبَصَلِ وَ أَكْثِرْ لَنَا مِنَ الْبَاذَنْجَانِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُسْتَفْهِماً الْبَاذَنْجَانِ قَالَ نَعَمْ الْبَاذَنْجَانُ جَامِعُ الطَّعْمِ مَنْفِيُّ الدَّاءِ صَالِحٌ لِلطَّبِيعَةِ مُنْصِفٌ فِي أَحْوَالِهِ صَالِحٌ لِلشَّيْخِ وَ الشَّابِّ مُعْتَدِلٌ فِي حَرَارَتِهِ وَ بُرُودَتِهِ حَارٌّ فِي مَكَانِ الْحَرَارَةِ وَ بَارِدٌ فِي مَكَانِ الْبُرُودَةِ.

“He (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, once said to a certain one of his servants, ‘You must bring for us less onion and more eggplant/ He inquired saying, ‘Do you mean eggplant? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, eggplant, it is wholesome in taste, removes illness, is suitable for one’s health, balanced in its condition and it is

ذَكَرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْبَصَلَ فَقَالَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَلْغَمِ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْجِمَاعِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once mentioned onion and said, ‘It is well flavored and it dissolves phlegm and increases one’s ability to go to bed with his wife.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْبَصَلُ يَذْهَبُ بِالنَّصَبِ وَ يَشُدُّ الْعَصَبَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخُطَى‌[1] وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحُمَّى.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Onion removes illness, strengthens nerves, increases the ability to walk, increases one’s seed and removes fever.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُوا الْبَصَلَ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ ثَلَاثَ خِصَالٍ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يَشُدُّ اللِّثَةَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَ الْجِمَاعِ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘You must eat onion; it has three qualities; it is well flavored, brings firmness to one’s gums, increases one’s seeds and the ability to go to bed with one’s wife.’”

الْبَصَلُ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يَشُدُّ الظَّهْرَ وَ يُرِقُّ الْبَشَرَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Onion gives fine flavor, strengthens one’s back and clears the skin.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِذَا دَخَلْتُمْ بِلَاداً فَكُلُوا مِنْ بَصَلِهَا يَطْرُدْ عَنْكُمْ وَبَاءَهَا.

‘When you enter a town eat its onion, it keeps plague away from you.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَكْلِ الثُّومِ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَنْهُ لِرِيحِهِ فَقَالَ مَنْ أَكَلَ هَذِهِ الْبَقْلَةَ الْخَبِيثَةَ فَلَا يَقْرَبْ مَسْجِدَنَا فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَكَلَهُ وَ لَمْ يَأْتِ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

“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 thos

سُئِلَ عَنْ أَكْلِ الثُّومِ وَ الْبَصَلِ وَ الْكُرَّاثِ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَكْلِهِ نِيّاً وَ فِي الْقُدُورِ وَ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَنْ يُتَدَاوَى بِالثُّومِ وَ لَكِنْ إِذَا أَكَلَ ذَلِكَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلَا يَخْرُجْ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ.

“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.’”

لَمَّا أَنْ قَضَيْتُ نُسُكِي مَرَرْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَالَ هُوَ بِيَنْبُعَ فَأَتَيْتُ يَنْبُعَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا حَسَنُ مَشَيْتَ إِلَى هَاهُنَا قُلْتُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَرِهْتُ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ وَ لَا أَرَاكَ فَقَالَ ع إِنِّي أَكَلْتُ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْبَقْلَةِ يَعْنِي الثُّومَ فَأَرَدْتُ أَنْ أَتَنَحَّى عَنْ مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص.

“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