John Esposito, a prominent scholar of Islam who spent decades urging the West not to treat the religion as a threat, died on 15 July at age 86. His death came as the United States launched a war against Iran, a conflict he had long cautioned against. Esposito, a Georgetown University professor, argued that framing Islam as an enemy would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. He wrote the influential book 'The Islamic Threat' in 1992, rejecting the idea of an inevitable clash of civilizations between the West and the Muslim world. Esposito began studying Islam after the 1979 Iranian revolution, when few American academics specialized in the field. He emphasized understanding Muslims' lived experiences rather than relying on stereotypes. Throughout his career, he spoke out against Islamophobia, supported political prisoners, and highlighted the plight of Palestinians. Colleagues remember him as a public intellectual who connected deeply with audiences through humor and compassion. His family has asked for donations to Georgetown's Bridge Initiative in his memory.