ujub

Ujub, written عُجْب in Arabic, is a term used in Islamic ethics to denote self-amazement or admiration of one's own deeds or qualities, especially one's piety or righteousness. The root connotes astonishment, but in this ethical sense it refers to pride that arises from imagining that one's merit is entirely one's own doing. In traditional Islamic discourse, ujub is considered a spiritual disease of the heart, different from kibr (arrogance) though closely related; ujub may precede or accompany arrogance and can lead to the person to feel superior to others while still performing outward pieties.

Ujub often manifests as a person praising their own actions, neglecting to acknowledge God's role, and becoming blind to their faults. It can coexist with riya (performing deeds for show) but is not identical; riya concerns others' perception, while ujub concerns inner self-appreciation. Scholarly discussions warn that ujub can harden the heart and undermine repentance, gratitude, and sincerity.

In practice, Muslim scholars advise countermeasures such as humility before God, gratitude for His mercy, and seeking knowledge and good company that remind one of human frailty. Reminders of death and accountability, along with supplications to seek refuge from self-amazement, are commonly recommended. Ujub is discussed across Sunni and Sufi literature, and is cited as something to be guarded against on the path to spiritual integrity.