Forty Hadiths on Poisonous Social Habits

Forty Hadiths on Poisonous Social Habits by Yahya M.A. Ondigo follows the tradition Imam An-Nawawi made famous — forty selected hadiths, each with a brief commentary — but points it at a specific target: the social habits that quietly poison a community from the inside.

What the Book Covers

Ondigo compiles hadiths addressing lying, greed, corruption, smoking, gambling and other habits that erode trust and character in a community, explaining after each one what it means and what it costs socially, then offering practical, faith-grounded advice for breaking the habit. The commentary is well-documented throughout, and written to speak to Muslim and non-Muslim readers alike — the social damage these habits cause is not specific to any one faith, even where the remedy Ondigo offers is grounded specifically in the Prophet’s ﷺ guidance.

The Point of the Collection

Ondigo’s aim is not simply to catalogue these habits but to prompt reflection on Allah’s principle that a people’s condition changes only when they change what is within themselves — the book is meant to be a starting point for that change, not a lecture about it.

Who This Book Is For

Readers who want a short, well-sourced hadith collection focused specifically on everyday social conduct rather than ritual worship or belief.