Ismail Raji al-Faruqi was a prominent Palestinian-American philosopher and Islamic scholar, born in 1921. He is best known for his work in the fields of Islamic thought and comparative religion. Al-Faruqi emphasized the importance of understanding Islam in a global context and advocated for interfaith dialogue. He founded the American Islamic College in Chicago and was a key figure in promoting Islamic education in the West. Al-Faruqi's writings explored the relationship between Islam and modernity, and he sought to bridge cultural divides through his scholarship and activism. He passed away in 1986, leaving a lasting impact on Islamic studies.