Biography of Amnah Bint Muhammadnoor Fatani
Name and Lineage
Amnah bint Muhammadnoor bin Muhammad bin Ismail Fatani was the daughter of the esteemed scholar and teacher at the Grand Mosque in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram), Sheikh Muhammadnoor bin Muhammad Ismail Fatani. Her mother was Sheikha Safia bint Ali Wan Kotan, who came from a family of knowledge and faith; her father was one of the prominent students of knowledge in Mecca.

Amnah was known for her virtuous character, knowledge, and calm demeanor in her dealings with others. She earned the trust and affection of her in-laws, playing a major role in looking after the affairs and happiness of her husband's family.

Birth
Amnah was born in Mecca in 1919 . Her birthplace was her paternal grandfather's residence, known as the "Grand House" (Al-Bait Al-Kabeer), located in the Al-Qashashiyah quarter, specifically in the Zuqaq Al-Khandafushi (formerly Al-Hajar) alley.

Upbringing and Education
Amnah was raised in a household rooted in knowledge and piety. Her father was the distinguished scholar, judge at the court, and teacher at the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Muhammadnoor Fatani. Her paternal grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad bin Ismail, was one of the senior scholars in Mecca.

Under the care of her father, Sheikh Muhammadnoor, Amnah was educated in religious sciences, Quran memorization, Arabic language rules, and arithmetic. At that time, she was the only daughter among her five brothers: Ahmad, Zain, Abdulghaffar, Hassan, and Yaseen.

The early passing of her mother profoundly affected her upbringing. Her father ensured she received special care and attention while also instilling in her self-reliance from a young age, even amidst a large household filled with siblings and relatives.

An important figure in her life was her cousin, Asia bint Abdullah (her brother Ahmad's wife), who was more than 16 years her senior. Asia provided significant support, guidance, and involved Amnah in many matters concerning the management of the Grand House, including cooking and hosting Hajj pilgrims.

Furthermore, the presence of her paternal aunt, Khadeejah, a virtuous lady, was influential. From her, Amnah learned much about patience (Al-Anah), social etiquette, and loving others, in addition to religious knowledge
Amna's Parenting Style
Her parenting style focuses on instilling in her children the values of cooperation, respect for others, independence in their tasks, and self-reliance.

Amna's Positive Attributes
Life taught Amna patience and struggle from an early age following the death of her father, Sheikh Mohammed Nour Fattani, in 1943. She learned to cope with poverty and perseverance to build her marital home. She was a supportive partner, collaborating with her husband on many matters to improve their financial situation. This included assisting him with his calligraphy work at home, particularly large canvases, some of which stretched to 30 meters or more, working late into the night to complete them.

Amna was also characterized by a strong desire for self-development. She learned wool crafts and loved creating numerous small and large dolls. She later expanded her skills to canvas work and beadwork. She crafted elaborate tissue box covers decorated with beads and thin plastic threads, producing challenging and intricate artwork. She found great joy in completing these projects and often distributed her creations as gifts to her friends and relatives.

Generosity and Service During Hajj
Amna took pleasure in hosting pilgrims from Malaysia—relatives and acquaintances—in her home every year. She actively helped her husband accommodate these successive groups during the Hajj season, happily preparing appropriate meals and enjoying their company. She was eager to meet them, learn from their skills, and exchange knowledge.

During Hajj itself, Amna would accept the invitation of her brother, Sheikh Ahmed, and his wife, Asia, to join their pilgrim group. She played a vital and effective role in preparing for the pilgrimage, organizing necessities like food and tools, and making traditional sweets such as sh'airiyah (vermicelli), ma'moul, and ghuraybah that the group customarily ate. Within the extended family women who performed Hajj with Sheikh Ahmed, Amna was an active leader in managing their affairs. These Hajj journeys brought them great joy for several years until the individual Tawafah (pilgrim guidance) system was discontinued and replaced by the institutional system, which coincided with the removal of the large Fattani house due to the expansion of the streets of Mina and the Jamarat complex.

Amna's Upbringing
Amna, a blossoming young woman, learned patience and collective participation as she traversed the initial stages of physical, intellectual, and social maturity. This development took place under her father's care and alongside her sisters from her father's second wife. Living in a communal environment shared by more than six families, with her father having multiple wives and numerous children, Amna's circumstances taught her a great deal.

She was consistently the focus of her father's and siblings' attention, as she was the eldest daughter of the respected patriarch of the Fattani family in Mecca, and a particular source of her father's affection and interest.

Her Family Life
After several years, her paternal aunt, Khadijah, returned from Malaysia, accompanied by her eldest son, Mahmoud, and her nephew, Saleh Abdulrahman Fattani. Mahmoud was placed under the guardianship and care of his maternal uncle, Sheikh Muhammad Noor.

Mahmoud, who was a few years Amna's senior, embarked on rebuilding his character. He completed his secondary education, attended numerous scholarly gatherings, and developed a passion for Arabic calligraphy. He excelled in this hobby, becoming proficient enough to turn it into a profession. He was employed as a calligraphy teacher at Al-Falah schools, earning a salary comparable to his peers in education.

Feeling he had established the necessary means for married life, Mahmoud Saleh Deen Fattani (Amna's cousin, her aunt's son) proposed to Amna, a woman known for her good manners, beauty, and modesty. They were married in 1355 AH (Anno Hegirae).

A separate residence was prepared for them on one of the four floors of the small building adjacent to the gathering hall of Sheikh Ahmed Muhammad Noor Fattani. This arrangement allowed Amna to be close to her brother and his wife, Asiya bint Abdullah Fattani—the virtuous daughter of her paternal uncle, Sheikh Abdullah—who became her primary assistant.
Her Struggle in Married Life
The initial days of their marriage were challenging due to difficult socio-economic conditions. Amna's husband, Mahmoud, was determined to secure a better life for his wife, his mother, and his nephew Saleh. He took a job assisting his uncle with Hajj and pilgrim-related work. Simultaneously, he tirelessly pursued his education, striving to complete his secondary certificate, learn English, and master calligraphy.

Given their poor financial standing, Mahmoud and his resourceful wife, Amna, sought ways to improve their income. Amna began assisting her husband by making printed women's clothing (known as al-mudawwarat). She would stay up late with him, working through the nights to produce and sell as many items as possible. Her efforts also extended to making krupuk (crackers), soybeans (for making Jawi ketchup), and printed cloths, while Mahmoud would prepare the printing stencils and help with the production process and printing.

In this way, Amna courageously confronted the family's financial struggles, standing strong against the demands of life and patiently enduring their needs. Several years into their marriage, Sheikh Mahmoud successfully mastered Arabic calligraphy and was appointed as an Arabic calligraphy teacher at Al-Falah School

Her Contribution to the Family
Amina was known for her dedication to work and activity. Noticing the lack of educational opportunities for the family's girls and her younger sisters—due to the absence of girls' schools and the parents' busy lives—she devoted herself to teaching them the Holy Quran, religious studies, grammar, and arithmetic.

Simultaneously, she continually developed her own knowledge. She began studying English, advanced Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), and Hadith. Furthermore, she learned embroidery, sewing, and handicrafts from Malay pilgrims (Hajjiyat), becoming particularly captivated by embroidery work.

Her Children and Their Lives
Amina's first son, Fadil, was born in 1939. Her devotion as a mother was profound. Fadil, being the first grandson from her eldest daughter, also received extensive care and attention from his maternal grandfather, Sheikh Muhammad Nur Fattani.

Three years later, she had Kamil, followed by Adil two years after that, who sadly passed away in childhood at the age of five.

Next came Nayil, who was distinguished by his inquisitive nature, thirst for knowledge, social enthusiasm, and lively spirit. At the age of seven, while on a road trip to Medina with his father, his grandmother Khadija, and his aunt Fatima, he was tragically stung by a scorpion. He succumbed to the venom before reaching the city and was buried in Medina.

Following this loss, she gave birth to her first daughter, Fatima, who was cherished and raised with special affection and attention from both parents. Fatima attended Al-Fatah School in Mecca, completed her intermediate education, and married Munir Bintan.

Next were her daughter Faiza, who also passed away in childhood at the age of four, and then her son Ibrahim. Finally, Nadia was born in Mecca. She received parental care and pursued her education until she enrolled at Umm Al-Qura University.

Tragically, in her early university years, Nadia was diagnosed with leukemia (blood cancer). She pursued treatment in America but suffered from the illness for three years, passing away in 1983 She was buried in Al-Ma'la, Mecca. Nadia's death had a profound and lasting impact on her mother, Amina

She frequently visited Malaysia, a place she loved because it allowed her to reconnect with her cousins, relatives, and friends. She particularly enjoyed spending time with those she had previously hosted for Hajj. During these trips, she would explore the country's tourist spots and entertainment cities and indulge in the diverse Asian fruits. Her final journey to Malaysia was alongside her husband, Mahmoud Saleh Fattani, and her son, Ibrahim, where they again visited many scenic locations. Shortly before she fell ill, she embarked on a memorable road trip with her daughter, Fatima, and son-in-law, Munir Bintan. They drove from Jeddah to Egypt, touring Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, and the historical sites around Alexandria in Munir's car
Death and Legacy:

After a life rich with struggle and the enjoyment of its various phases—from the period of preparation to the period of self-sufficiency, to the period of enjoyment and farewell, and finally the suffering of illness and the end of life—Amna Muhammadnour Fattani passed away in Makkah on February 13, 2010 (29 Safar 1431 AH). She was buried in Al-Ma'lat cemetery. May God have mercy upon her soul and grant her the highest place in Paradise.