In the Prophet’s time, if a man entered the mosque after eating leeks or onions, he would be driven all the way to al-Baqiʿ—and you know how far al-Baqiʿ lies from the Prophet’s Mosque—so that he would not come near the mosque at all.

Yet we regret to see some people today—may Allah guide and protect us and them—smoke cigarettes or shisha and then come to the mosque with the smell of tobacco clinging to their breath or their clothes. Everyone finds that odor offensive; some worshippers cannot even pray beside such people. It is therefore forbidden for them to enter the mosque while those foul smells linger.

The same ruling applies to anyone afflicted with strong body odor—whether it emanates from the armpits, the ears, or the scalp. As long as the offensive smell persists, he may not perform the prayer or enter the mosque; he must stay away.

Praise be to Allah. Such odors are a kind of affliction and trial. The person who is tested in this way should not protest, “How can I deprive myself of the mosque?” This is from Allah, so for the time being keep yourself away and do not harm people or angels. Do everything you can to eliminate the smell—through thorough washing or by applying a pleasant fragrance that masks it—so that only a good scent is perceived from you.

Another instance in which khabīth (defective) is used for inferior earnings is found in the Prophet’s statement: “The earnings of the …”