Muslim communities, academics, and interfaith leaders around the world are mourning the death of Professor John L. Esposito, one of the most influential non-Muslim scholars of Islam and Muslim-West relations.
Esposito died on July 15, 2026, at the age of 86, leaving behind a scholarly legacy spanning more than five decades. Through his teaching, research, and public engagement, he worked to advance a more informed and balanced understanding of Islam while challenging prejudice and widespread misconceptions about Muslims, Islamicity reported.
An American professor of Middle Eastern and religious studies, Esposito served as University Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University. In 1993, he founded the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, helping establish it as a leading institution dedicated to interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and cooperation.
Earlier in his career, he spent nearly two decades at the College of the Holy Cross, where he taught world religions, chaired the Department of Religious Studies, and directed the Center for International Studies.
A student of renowned Islamic scholar Professor Isma’il Raji al-Faruqi, Esposito became one of the most prolific Western scholars writing about Islam. He authored, co-authored, or edited more than 50 books, many of which became widely used academic references.
His best-known works include Islam: The Straight Path, Islam and Politics, The Islamic Threat: Myth or Reality?, What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, and The Future of Islam. He also co-authored Who Speaks for Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think with Dalia Mogahed and Shariah: What Everyone Needs to Know with Natana J. DeLong-Bas.
Esposito also served as editor-in-chief of major Oxford reference works, including The Oxford Dictionary of Islam, The Oxford History of Islam, and The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Islamic World.
Throughout his career, he held leadership positions in prominent academic organizations, serving as president of both the Middle East Studies Association of North America and the American Academy of Religion. His work earned several honors, including the Martin E. Marty Award for the Public Understanding of Religion and Pakistan’s Quaid-e-Azam Award for contributions to Islamic studies.
Condolences
Following his death, the Council on American-Islamic Relations expressed condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, and students.
“To God we belong and to Him we return. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Professor John Esposito’s family, friends, colleagues, students, and all those whose lives he touched through his scholarship, teaching, and unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
“Professor Esposito devoted his life to advancing an accurate understanding of Islam and Muslims at a time when misinformation and prejudice too often dominated public discourse. His scholarship helped educate generations of students, policymakers, journalists, religious leaders, and members of the public around the world.
“He was not only an extraordinary academic, but also a compassionate friend and trusted voice who consistently stood for religious freedom, interfaith cooperation, and the dignity of all people. His legacy will continue to inspire future generations of scholars and advocates working to build greater understanding and mutual respect.
“May God have mercy on him, grant comfort and patience to his loved ones, and reward him for his lifelong service to knowledge and humanity.”
A lifelong Catholic, Esposito demonstrated through his life and scholarship how strong personal faith could coexist with profound respect for other religious traditions.
For many Muslims, he was more than an academic authority. He was regarded as a trusted friend, a principled defender of fairness, and an important voice against Islamophobia.
His legacy will endure through his books, his students, and the bridges of understanding he built between Muslims and people of other faiths.