Dr. Ismail Raji al-Faruqi (1921?1986) was a distinguished Palestinian-American philosopher and scholar of comparative religion. Born in Jaffa, Palestine, he served as District Governor during the British Mandate before the 1948 displacement forced his emigration to the United States.

Dr. al-Faruqi earned his Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University and later studied Islamic jurisprudence (*fiqh*) at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious centers of Islamic learning. He served as Professor of Islamic Studies and History of Religions at Temple University, Philadelphia, where he founded the Islamic Studies program that became a model for similar programs across North America.

A prolific scholar, Dr. al-Faruqi authored numerous influential works including *Christian Ethics: A Historical and Systematic Analysis of Its Dominant Ideas*, *Historical Atlas of the Religions of the World* (co-authored with David Sopher), *Tawhid: Its Implications for Thought and Life*, and *Islamization of Knowledge: General Principles and Work Plan*. He co-founded the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) and the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (AMSS), institutions that continue to advance Islamic scholarship globally.

His academic work focused on Islamic thought, comparative religion, and interfaith dialogue, always emphasizing the rational and ethical foundations of Islamic civilization. Dr. al-Faruqi's scholarship sought to bridge Islamic and Western intellectual traditions while maintaining the integrity of Islamic principles.

Dr. al-Faruqi and his wife, Dr. Lois Lamya al-Faruqi (also a distinguished scholar of Islamic art and music), were tragically murdered in their home in 1986. His scholarly legacy continues to influence Islamic studies, interfaith understanding, and the intellectual revival of Muslim thought worldwide.