ICNA Mourns the Passing of Professor John L. Esposito

New York, NY (July 16, 2026) – The Islamic Circle of North America mourns the passing of Professor John L. Esposito, who died yesterday at the age of 86. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. University Professor at Georgetown and founding director of the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, he was among the most consequential scholarly voices on Islam in the West.

Across five decades and more than 45 books, including Islam: The Straight Path, Who Speaks for Islam?, and The Future of Islam. Professor Esposito shaped how generations of students, journalists, and policymakers understood Islam and Muslims. When our community faced suspicion after 9/11 and rising Islamophobia in the years since, he stood publicly and consistently for accuracy over caricature, founding The Bridge Initiative to document anti-Muslim bigotry with academic rigor.

ICNA President Saad Kazmi said “Professor John Esposito was a principled scholar and a steadfast ally of American Muslims. At a time when Muslims were too often reduced to fear and stereotype, he insisted on evidence, context, and the dignity of Muslim voices.”

He challenged Islamophobia, strengthened understanding across faiths, and affirmed the full belonging of Muslims in American society. ICNA was honored to host him as a keynote speaker and benefit from his scholarship. His legacy will endure through the institutions he helped build, the students he taught, and the public understanding he advanced.

We extend heartfelt condolences to his wife, Jean, his family, students, and colleagues.