Abu Nuʿaym likewise related the report in his Mustakhraj through Rūḥ ibn ʿUbādah from Ibn Jurayj with the same wording, and he even specified the transmitter who added the phrase “and on another occasion he said.” His version runs: Ibn Jurayj said, “ʿAṭāʾ, at another time, said: ‘garlic, onions, and leeks.’”

Abu al-Zubayr also narrated it from Jābir with the wording: “The Prophet ﷺ forbade the eating of onions and leeks,” and he added, “Garlic was not present in our land at that time.” Ibn Khuzaymah recorded it in exactly this form through the transmissions of Yazīd ibn Ibrāhīm and ʿAbd al-Razzāq, both from Ibn ʿUyaynah, from Abu al-Zubayr.

I add: this does not invalidate the earlier explanation, for the mere absence of the plant in their land does not mean it could not be imported; and even were importation impossible, the report of one who affirms an occurrence takes precedence over that of one who denies it.

By “the explanation just mentioned,” al-Ḥāfiẓ is referring to the version in al-Bukhārī transmitted through Abū ʿĀṣim, who said, “Ibn Jurayj informed us,” with the wording:

“Whoever eats from this tree—meaning garlic—let him not come near us in our mosque.”

Muslim also related it from Ibn Jurayj through two additional chains.

Al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Bayhaqī further transmitted it through Ibn Wahb: Yūnus informed me, from Ibn Shihāb, who said: ʿAṭāʾ ibn Abī Rabāḥ narrated it to me. This version contains the second supplementary clause and states:

“Whoever eats garlic or onions should keep away from us”—or: “let him avoid our mosque and stay in his house.”

On one occasion a pot containing greens from among the herbs was brought to the Prophet. When he detected their odor he asked what was in it, and he was told it contained those vegetables. He said, “Bring it closer” to one of his Companions. When the man saw this he hesitated to eat, whereupon the Prophet said, “Eat, for I converse with those whom you do not converse with.”