--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for…" description: "\"To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds to me very much like an incident of anti-Muslim bigotry.\" — Maajid Nawaz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg" --- # To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds… ![“To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds to me very much like an incident of anti-Muslim bigotry.” quote by Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg) > “To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds to me very much like an incident of anti-Muslim bigotry.” [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement argues that denying Muslims agency is a form of bigotry. **In simple terms:** Assuming a group lacks thinking is hateful. Key Takeaway Challenge stereotypes with evidence. Themes stereotypes bigotry agency Mood critical assertive Type political social When to use this quote - education - public policy - interfaith dialogue Key Concepts Islamic thought cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can we recognize individual agency? - What evidence disproves the stereotype? A Different Perspective Overgeneralization can overlook individual diversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bigotry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) [Islam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/islam/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Muslim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muslim/) ## Related quotes > [We've seen a tremendous rise in the level of anti-Muslim bigotry in our society - and against minorities of all kinds - but we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-hooper/we-ve-seen-a-tremendous-rise-in-the-level-of-anti-muslim-bigotry-in/) [Ibrahim Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-hooper/) > [I care not to debate which came first, Islamism or anti-Muslim bigotry; suffice to say that both feed into each other symbiotically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-care-not-to-debate-which-came-first-islamism-or-anti-muslim-bigotry/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I think to suggest that somehow Muslims aren't welcome in the USA, to suggest somehow that being a Muslim is incompatible with being western,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/i-think-to-suggest-that-somehow-muslims-aren-t-welcome-in-the-usa-to/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [I'm a Muslim, but I think Jesus would have a drink with me. He would be cool. He would talk to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/i-m-a-muslim-but-i-think-jesus-would-have-a-drink-with-me-he-would-be/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [Im not a perfect Muslim; I think none of us are perfect human beings. I do the five pillars of Islam, you know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sania-mirza/im-not-a-perfect-muslim-i-think-none-of-us-are-perfect-human-beings-i/) [Sania Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sania-mirza/) > [Anti-Semitism is a rotten thing. It's an ignorant, stupid, horrible thing. As is anti-Muslim feeling. They have to be together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miriam-margolyes/anti-semitism-is-a-rotten-thing-it-s-an-ignorant-stupid-horrible/) [Miriam Margolyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miriam-margolyes/) > [One time, the Library of Congress was giving books to local libraries around the country on Islam. The library of a guy named Walter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-ellison/one-time-the-library-of-congress-was-giving-books-to-local-libraries/) [Keith Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-ellison/) > [We are strong supporters of First Amendment rights, and we believe free speech is a two-way street. While anyone is free to be an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-hooper/we-are-strong-supporters-of-first-amendment-rights-and-we-believe/) [Ibrahim Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-hooper/) > [Anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric doesn't simply sit in a silo. It interacts with the world, creating and fuming hatred that leads to hateful acts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/anti-muslim-and-anti-arab-rhetoric-doesn-t-simply-sit-in-a-silo-it/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [One has to wonder what Donald Trump will say next as he ramps up his anti-Muslim bigotry. Where is there left for him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibrahim-hooper/one-has-to-wonder-what-donald-trump-will-say-next-as-he-ramps-up-his/) [Ibrahim Hooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibrahim-hooper/) > [In its attempts to ruin the Iran deal, AIPAC supported the group that's credited with inspiring President Trump to enact the Muslim Ban and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-jean-pierre/in-its-attempts-to-ruin-the-iran-deal-aipac-supported-the-group-that/) [Karine Jean-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-jean-pierre/) > [The rise of the far-right, which is driven by predominantly anti-Muslim hatred, if we continue to allow this rising tide of the far-right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humza-yousaf/the-rise-of-the-far-right-which-is-driven-by-predominantly-anti/) [Humza Yousaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humza-yousaf/) > [“Political observers point out that our country has a long, raucous history of witch hunts. “In times of economic distress, people tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arsalan-iftikhar/political-observers-point-out-that-our-country-has-a-long-raucous/) [Arsalan Iftikhar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arsalan-iftikhar/) > [Given all of the anti-Muslim propaganda that's being disseminated by The American Nazi media, you have to be careful. It can stress you out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/given-all-of-the-anti-muslim-propaganda-that-s-being-disseminated-by/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [I'm not anti-Muslim, I'm not anti-immigration; I'm saying we've got big problems in our cities. It's not very smart to make the problem bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pim-fortuyn/i-m-not-anti-muslim-i-m-not-anti-immigration-i-m-saying-we-ve-got-big/) [Pim Fortuyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pim-fortuyn/) ## More by Maajid Nawaz > [I was held in the Mazra Tora Prison for my role as leader of the pan-Islamist organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir in Alexandria.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-was-held-in-the-mazra-tora-prison-for-my-role-as-leader-of-the-pan/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Ironically, xenophobic nationalists are utilizing the benefits of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/ironically-xenophobic-nationalists-are-utilizing-the-benefits-of/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I care not to debate which came first, Islamism or anti-Muslim bigotry; suffice to say that both feed into each other symbiotically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-care-not-to-debate-which-came-first-islamism-or-anti-muslim-bigotry/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Let me make this clear: it is our duty to adopt a policy barring the wearing of niqabs in these public buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/let-me-make-this-clear-it-is-our-duty-to-adopt-a-policy-barring-the/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Expressing myself through language was always something that I had had to learn to do more so than others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/expressing-myself-through-language-was-always-something-that-i-had/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Not all Muslims wish to express themselves in public through a communal religious identity. Identities are multiple, and some may wish to speak instead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/not-all-muslims-wish-to-express-themselves-in-public-through-a/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [During my teenage years as an Islamist recruiter, I moved to live in self-contained communities in the London boroughs of Newham and Tower Hamlets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/during-my-teenage-years-as-an-islamist-recruiter-i-moved-to-live-in/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [As people's opportunities to succumb to confirmation bias increases online - only seeking out information that confirms their prejudices - ignorance, extremism and close-mindedness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/as-people-s-opportunities-to-succumb-to-confirmation-bias-increases/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [After much soul searching I was able to renounce my past Islamist ideology, challenging everything I was once prepared to die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/after-much-soul-searching-i-was-able-to-renounce-my-past-islamist/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Chance explorations on search engines do not 'accidentally' lead users to extremist websites.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/chance-explorations-on-search-engines-do-not-accidentally-lead-users/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [I think I would encourage leaders to start working with communities in order to inoculate angry, young teenagers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/i-think-i-would-encourage-leaders-to-start-working-with-communities/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [The way to tackle Muslimphobia is to tackle prejudice against Muslims. What it is not is to pretend that Islamist extremism does not exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/the-way-to-tackle-muslimphobia-is-to-tackle-prejudice-against-muslims/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [Preying on the grievances of disaffected young men is the bedrock of Islamism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/preying-on-the-grievances-of-disaffected-young-men-is-the-bedrock-of/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [No form of theocracy, whether it's manifested in a violent or non-violent form, is ever good for civilisation, and we have to challenge it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/no-form-of-theocracy-whether-it-s-manifested-in-a-violent-or-non/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) > [One of the problems we're facing is, in my view, that there are no globalized, youth-led, grassroots social movements advocating for democratic culture across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/one-of-the-problems-we-re-facing-is-in-my-view-that-there-are-no/) [Maajid Nawaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) [Explore all 87 Maajid Nawaz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/) ## More Bigotry quotes > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [To take up half on trust, and half to try, Name it not faith but bungling bigotry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/to-take-up-half-on-trust-and-half-to-try-name-it-not-faith-but/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [Bigoted people are just scholars who lack any sort of legitimate credentials to answer why they're bigoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doctavius/bigoted-people-are-just-scholars-who-lack-any-sort-of-legitimate/) Doctavius > [Sadly, we can't eliminate bigotry. But that doesn't mean we have to tolerate it, much less give it a platform on which to thrive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-viner/sadly-we-can-t-eliminate-bigotry-but-that-doesn-t-mean-we-have-to/) [Katharine Viner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-viner/) > [Ideological bigotry has become the norm on even our most prestigious campuses, where students can go for years without reading or hearing anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/ideological-bigotry-has-become-the-norm-on-even-our-most-prestigious/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [“People talk about history and things like slavery, genocide, and religious persecution as horrors that happened in the past because we were ignorant. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-matthew-nespoli/people-talk-about-history-and-things-like-slavery-genocide-and/) [J. Matthew Nespoli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-matthew-nespoli/) > [“Remember who you are. This creature wants to take it from you. Do not let him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/remember-who-you-are-this-creature-wants-to-take-it-from-you-do-not/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [“Oh Beautiful For A Land That's Free Where All Can Congregate Together Live With No Degree Of Bigotry And Hate”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bee/oh-beautiful-for-a-land-that-s-free-where-all-can-congregate-together/) Kathy Bee > [“That’s the problem with indoctrination—the whole point of the First Order’s kind of education is to stop someone from thinking and instead kick their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delilah-s-dawson/that-s-the-problem-with-indoctrination-the-whole-point-of-the-first/) [Delilah S. Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delilah-s-dawson/) > [Too small is our world to allow discrimination, bigotry and intolerance to thrive in any corner of it, let alone in the United States…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-engel/too-small-is-our-world-to-allow-discrimination-bigotry-and/) [Eliot Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-engel/) > [... happily the Government of the United States... gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/happily-the-government-of-the-united-states-gives-to-bigotry-no/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“This book would be a great addition to a classroom library, especially considering its emphases on timeless and critical topics like discrimination and prejudice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lovejoy/this-book-would-be-a-great-addition-to-a-classroom-library-especially/) [Sharon Lovejoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lovejoy/) > [Pat Buchanan... was fired by MSNBC for doing nothing more than voicing his rock-solid conservative thoughts on the otherwise failing network... The real message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/pat-buchanan-was-fired-by-msnbc-for-doing-nothing-more-than-voicing/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [Fear and Bigotry are bred fom isolation and ignorance. -Shekinah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/fear-and-bigotry-are-bred-fom-isolation-and-ignorance-shekinah/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 661 Bigotry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigotry/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds to me very much like an incident of anti-Muslim bigotry.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Maajid Nawaz" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-for-himself-sounds-to-me-very/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bigotry" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-for-himself-sounds-to-me-very/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c8/maajid-nawaz-7798_bigotry_to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-fo_2497324.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To suggest that a Muslim cannot think for himself sounds to me very much like an incident of anti-Muslim…” — Maajid Nawaz", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Maajid Nawaz", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maajid-nawaz/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To suggest that a Muslim cannot...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-for-himself-sounds-to-me-very/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maajid-nawaz/to-suggest-that-a-muslim-cannot-think-for-himself-sounds-to-me-very/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```