A young Sydney Muslim businessman turned humanitarian after being diagnosed with cancer is being remembered for helping thousands of people across many countries through his charity ‘Muslims Around the World’.
Ali Banat was a young wealthy businessman from the Sydney suburb of Greenacre, renowned for living a lavish lifestyle, earned from owning a security and electrical company.
But after being diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer three years ago he said he decided to distribute his wealth.
He was told he had seven months to live but instead lived for another three years. In that time he says he got rid of his cars, watches "even my clothes, I took them overseas with me and gave them to a lot of people," he said.
He went on to set up 'Muslims Around The World', a charity aimed at "providing financial assistance and outreach to those in need". His projects were aimed at helping people in a number of countries including Togo, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.
In a video recorded shortly before his death, the 32-year-old asked people to continue his work. "As you can see in this life we had the cars, we had the money, we had everything."
"So during your life brothers and sisters just try to have a goal, try to have a plan that you work towards. Even if it's not you personally funding it, and you are funding someone else's projects just do something because Wallah you are going to need it on the Day of Judgement," he said.
"And for the brothers and sisters that are chasing this life .. my advice to you guys is this life is becoming .. before we used to say five years ago, ten years ago certain things were happening, now it's every month things are changing. Wallah, we are following our desires more than we are following Islam these days."
His video ‘Gifted With Cancer’ in which he described his wealth and reasons for giving it up for charity went viral.
Ali Banat was farewelled at Lakemba mosque on 30th May 2018.
SBS Australia.
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