Dr Hany El Banna

Most people are fascinated with the good and bad actions displayed by people in society; some are attracted by the former and others by the latter. This reality creates an opportunity for guardians, educators and others who are concerned about the general welfare of society to act and search. In the context of education, the idea of good against bad has led some educators to use role models for personal and character development. Positive role models are used to educate, inspire and bring about change for the better.

Many young people, especially in Birmingham, England, would be famil- iar with certain heroes and heroines from their schooling days as part of their curriculum or as part of creating awareness and celebrating great black people in history. Such figures may include the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela, Razia Sultana, Emmeline Pankhurst, Mother Teresa, Harriet Tubman, the Dalai Lama and others. What is noticeable in this list is the absence of contemporary Muslims (and Muslimahs!), Muhammad Iqbal or Jinnah being perhaps the exceptions. For those in search of such an inspiring role model who live in the 21th century, they have one in the person of Dr Hani al-Banna.