Timeline
Ali Banat’s life in dates
Three years that reached the world.
Before 2015: Ali Banat in Sydney
A young businessman in the Sydney suburb of Greenacre, the owner of a security and electrical company (SBS News, 1 June 2018).
Food and water aid reaches families in need, with every pound shown. See the biggest Muslim charities in the UK and what they spend.
July 2015: the diagnosis
Stage 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma (AboutIslam, 13 December 2017). Seven months to live. He begins giving away what he owns, from his cars and watches to his clothes (SBS News and The National, 1 June 2018).
November 2015: Gifted With Cancer
OnePath Network publishes his interview with Mohamed Hoblos, in which he calls the cancer a gift and a chance to change. It goes viral and carries his story around the world; on YouTube alone it has now passed seven million views (Gifted With Cancer, OnePath Network; YouTube’s count on 11 October 2026).
Late November 2015: his community
Members of the community come out in numbers to show him their support (Gifted With Cancer Event, OnePath Network, YouTube).
January 2016: Islam Channel
He gives Islam Channel a long, exclusive interview about his journey (Saturday Night Live with Ali Banat, Islam Channel, YouTube).
September 2016: a later health scare
OnePath Network visits him again, and he shares his story once more with Mohamed Hoblos (Ali Banat Exclusive Interview, OnePath Network, YouTube).
November 2016: a tour in his honour
A fundraising tour through London, Birmingham and Bolton raises £400,000 for his projects, among them the village he planned in Togo for more than 200 widows and 600 orphans (UK Fundraising, 9 November 2016).
Togo
He travels to Togo and decides to build a mosque and a school there with his own money and the funds he raises. He sets up Muslims Around the World so that others can join in, and its projects reach Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso (The National and SBS News, 1 June 2018).
29 May 2018: returning to Allah
He passes away on a Tuesday in Ramadan, about three years after the doctors gave him seven months (SBS News and The National, 1 June 2018). Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un.
30 May 2018: his farewell
He is farewelled at Lakemba mosque in Sydney (SBS News, 1 June 2018).
31 May 2018: his final message
OnePath Network releases the message he recorded at his own request for after his death. It has since been watched more than six million times (His final message, OnePath Network; YouTube’s count on 11 October 2026).
June 2018: the world answers
People everywhere give to carry on his work: about €1 million from more than 25,000 donors within days (NOS, 1 June 2018), and more than US$1.6 million by 7 June (BBC News Indonesia, 7 June 2018).
25 November 2022: a lifetime achievement award
In Istanbul, the TRT World Citizen Awards honour him as their 2021 Lifetime Achievement Awardee (TRT World Citizen Awards).
Today
His talks and reminders are still watched and shared every day, and Muslims Around the World is protecting his legacy. Watch his talks, keep his story at Muslims Around the World, and make dua for him.