# John Esposito, pioneering US scholar of Islam, dies at 86

John Esposito, a leading scholar of Islam who helped shape Western understanding of the religion, has died at age 86. He founded the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University and authored dozens of influential books. His work promoted interfaith dialogue and challenged stereotypes about Islam in the post-9/11 era.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/7/16/john-esposito-pioneering-scholar-of-islam-in-the-us-dies-aged-86?traffic_source=rss) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:41:19 +0000
- [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2026/7/17/john-esposito-transformed-how-the-west-understood-islam?traffic_source=rss) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:27:17 +0000