Name and Lineage
His full name and lineage is Ahmad bin Muhammad Nur bin Muhammad bin Ismail Patani. He was the eldest son of the esteemed scholar and teacher at the Holy Mosque in Mecca (Haram al-Sharif), Shaykh Muhammad Nur. His mother was Shaykhah Safiyyah bint Ali Wan Kuten, who was known for her moral character, knowledge, gentle demeanor, and affection for her husband's family. Having earned their trust and love, she played a major role in managing and caring for the family affairs.

Birth and Early Life
Shaykh Ahmad was born in Mecca in 1893 CE, corresponding to 1311 AH. His birthplace was the home of his paternal grandfather, the late Shaykh Muhammad Nur bin Ismail Patani, known as "The Great House" in al-Qashashiyyah, Zuqaq al-Khardafushi (formerly al-Hajar).

Character and Biography
Throughout his life, Shaykh Ahmad was known for his generous spirit, calm disposition, excellent character, and gentle (easygoing) nature, which was paired with firmness. He was compassionate and loyal to his friends and loved ones, and he excelled at hospitality and welcoming guests.

Upbringing and Education
Shaykh Ahmad was raised in Mecca in a household of scholarship and piety. His father was the renowned scholar, judge at the court, and teacher at the Holy Mosque, Shaykh Muhammad Nur Patani, and his paternal grandfather, Shaykh Muhammad bin Ismail, was also a prominent scholar in Mecca. Shaykh Ahmad received the fundamental principles of Islamic sciences from his father, Shaykh Muhammad Nur bin Muhammad Ismail, who provided him with a religious upbringing, before he enrolled in al-Raqiyah School.
2
1. Generosity and Hospitality
Sheikh Ahmad was known for his generosity and exceptional hospitality. This was demonstrated in several ways:

A. Eid al-Fitr Breakfast: He was keen to host the first-day Eid al-Fitr breakfast for his family and relatives at his home. He also extended the invitation to pilgrims who had previously stayed with him or were still in Makkah (for religious education or work) to foster acquaintance and strengthen friendships.

B. Hajj Support: He ensured that his family, including siblings and relatives, could join him for Hajj every year. He provided them with transportation, accommodation, and subsistence annually. Family members and relatives would contribute to the pilgrimage preparations by making traditional items like Ma'moul, Ghuraybah, and vermicelli (which were not readily available in markets) to serve as meals for themselves and other pilgrims in Mina.

C. Ramadan Umrah: He was keen on performing Umrah during Ramadan accompanied by his family and relatives. He always made sure to provide transportation, the evening Iftar (breaking fast) meal, and smoothly organize their rituals for ease and comfort.

D. Medina Visits: Sheikh Ahmad was diligent about visiting Madinah (Medina) with his family, siblings, their spouses, and children. He would sometimes repeat the visit to Madinah in the same year with his brothers, sisters, and their children.

E. Kinship and Loyalty: He was committed to maintaining family ties (Silat al-Rahim), especially with his siblings. For example, the late Sheikh Yassin was keen to visit his brother Ahmad at the Diwan (his large reception hall) along with friends, brothers, and relatives. Sheikh Abdul Ghaffar and some of his brothers and friends would also participate in the gathering, where they would exchange conversations and advice. He was also loving and loyal to his friends and colleagues at the Sharia Court, such as his colleague, the late Uncle Abdul Latif Mandourah.

F. Affection for Children: He was loving and affectionate toward children. He enjoyed having them in his gatherings, encouraged them in their academic achievement and excellence, and rewarded them with money.

G. Special Care for Guests: He gave his pilgrim guests special attention, striving to meet their personal and specific requests and ensuring their happiness.

2. Ethics and Conduct (أخلاقه)
Sheikh Ahmad was calm-tempered and possessed fine ethics (Hasan al-Akhlaq) in his dealings with his family, neighbors, friends, guests, colleagues, and visiting pilgrims.

A key aspect of his high morals was his excellent neighborliness. He treated his neighbors with kindness, preserved their rights, checked on their well-being, overlooked their faults, visited them during occasions, and comforted them in times of sorrow.

He, may Allah have mercy on him, was known for his extreme generosity and kindness towards those who worked with him during the Hajj season, his colleagues, and his household staff. He frequently hosted them at his home, treated them with respect, and overlooked their faults, whether they were laborers or salaried employees. He was equally kind to his own servants.

Sheikh Ahmad loved to honor guests with gifts, offering excellent hospitality and a warm welcome. If the opportunity arose, he would provide financial support as a bonus for Hajj work, or for an assigned task. He would often include people in a trip to Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah or other places. He was also known for gifting towels or shirts given to him by pilgrims, as well as the 'Karpoo' and Javanese sweets that Hajj pilgrims would bring him. Anyone who visited him personally would be honored with a gift.

My uncle Ahmad was sensitive to my father's limited financial situation. He would actively create work opportunities for me and my brother, Fadhil, inviting us to assist the pilgrims. This work involved welcoming them, serving the initial welcome meal, and then accompanying them to the Grand Mosque for the Tawaf (circumambulation) and Sa’i (running). After we completed the task, he would pay us ten riyals or whatever amount was readily available. This was considered a significant sum given the value of the riyal at the time. His aim was to provide us with financial assistance and instill in us the importance of working with the pilgrims—a truly far-sighted perspective, may Allah have mercy on him. He earned a special place in the hearts of his entire family due to his kind interaction, the trust he placed in them, and his continued affection and communication with the children of his only sister (my mother).

Among his many good deeds, Sheikh Ahmad used to help Sheikh Mahmoud Saleh Fatani (my father) fill the special water tanks for the Sabeel (public water dispenser). My father, may Allah have mercy on him, managed this Sabeel, which required three to four water tankers to fill. My father would set up a water distribution center for pilgrims in Mina where the weather was hot and pilgrims were arriving from distant places, navigating the heavy traffic on the main road to perform the stoning of the Jamarat

Death: Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Noor Patani passed away in Makkah on Wednesday, the 4th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 1382 AH (Islamic calendar). He was buried in Al-Ma'lah cemetery, and his funeral was attended by a large number of worshipers. His family was understandably overcome with grief. At the time, his death added a significant burden of responsibility onto his son, Sheikh Mahmoud Ahmad Muhammad Noor Patani, to manage the extensive Hajj operations. However, the son performed his duties with great competence and efficiency, following the established procedures and successful methods his father had used in previous years, ensuring the Hajj program continued without disruption. May God have mercy on Sheikh Ahmad and grant his son strength in carrying this responsibility after him.

Children: Safiyyah, Azizah, Mahmoud, Asmah, Hamidah, and Suad.

End of Article