55: 'Ujb - The Sin of Self-Importance (Part 1)
"It is sufficient proof of a person's unculturedness that he exults in the perception of his own importance."
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
If esteem means to "regard or consider with respect" then self-esteem implies self-respect and recognition of one's value as a member of human society. Self respect is indeed the forerunner of respect for others, and there is overwhelming evidence indicating that the higher the level of self-esteem the more likely one will be to treat others with respect. It must be noted, however, that self-esteem is not synonymous with self-conceit.
Defining 'Ujb
`Ujb is ...
- an exaggerated opinion of one's importance
- a feeling of amplification of one's virtues and good deeds, their overestimation and satisfaction with them, accompanied with a sense of superiority on their account.
- an inflated estimate of one's own significance or merit; manifested through conduct, attitude or manners.
- an inflated feeling of pride in one's assumed superiority to others.
- Self-conceit, a pompous opinion of one's talents, capacity, appearance, etc.
- Egoism, a state in which the feelings are concentrated on one's self. Its expression is egotism = acting out of self-conceit, or self-importance, in words and exterior conduct.
- Vanity, inflation of mind arising from the idea of being thought highly of by others. It shows itself by eagerness to catch the notice of others.
`Ujb, in the opinion of some religious scholars of Islam, is the magnification of one's virtues and good deeds and the satisfaction with them accompanied with a feeling of superiority because of them, while at the same time, excusing the self from all failings and faults.
Kinds of 'Ujb
`Ujb applies to both good and bad actions.
- A virtuous person may become conceited about his good deeds, just as, a doer of wicked deeds may feel
proud of himself and his conduct. This is all allusion to the verse of the Quran which says:
And what of him, the evil of whose deeds has been decked out fair to him, so that he thinks then good ? [Qur'an 35:8]
- Another type of 'ujb is when a person considers himself more superior and pious to others and regards
himself as a better human being. Somehow he suspects the sincerity of their virtues in his heart and considers his
own deeds as free from any kind of fault.
Dangers of 'Ujb
A person with `ujb is inclined towards riya' (showing off) and nifaq (hypocrisy). It also infects
his behavior with kibr (pride). Among other vices present in the person who is afflicted with 'ujb is viewing
others with contempt and belittling them. The vice of `ujb is the product of self love that makes a person overvalue
his trivial deeds and underestimate the good deeds of others. Sayyidna 'Ali (A) is reported to have said:
- Arrogance ~ It is a noted fact that the person who sincerely looks up to God rarely looks down upon people. Remember that, "Allah certainly loves not the vainglorious nor the arrogant." [Qur'an 4:36]
- Self-Righteousness ~ considering one's self better than others due to one's own estimation of one's goodness/holiness/piety. "Do not ascribe righteousness to your self, Allah alone knows best who is truly pious." [Qur'an 53:32]
- Moral Myopia ~ Being sensitive to the errors of others while overlooking one's own shortcomings. "Monkeys are superior to men in this: when a monkey looks into a mirror, he sees a monkey." [Malcolm de Chazal]
- Condescension ~ He underrates the good deeds of others, but if he himself performs those deeds he magnifies them. He is sensitive to the errors of others, but overlooks his own faults. There is an old Sufi saying, "If you feel you have no faults, that makes another one."
- Failure to Self-Improve ~ A person afflicted with `ujb cares not to rectify himself, but rather
considers himself as a pious and virtuous. He belittles his sins and thinks not much of purging himself from them, and
ultimately leads himself to damnation.
Say: "Shall We inform you who will be the greatest losers in their deeds? Those whose efforts are wasted away in the life of the world, while they think that they are doing something good." [Qur'an, 18:103]