Nafisah bint Salih Fatani: A Pillar of the Family
Nafisah bint Salih Fatani is considered a key figure within the family descendants of Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani. The other prominent branches of this lineage are the descendants of Shaykh Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani and the opposing branch, the descendants of Shaykh Muhammad Nur bin Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani. Each of these branches maintains an active reputation among the wider family.

Nafisah was at the head of the Yahya bin Abdullah Fatani family; she was his wife and the mother of his children. She was the eldest daughter of Salih Zain Al-Abidin Fatani and the honorable Khadijah bint Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani.

Early Life and Education
Nafisah was born in Makkah Al-Mukarramah at the house of her grandfather, Shaykh Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani, where her parents resided in the Fatani quarters in Zuqaq Al-Sough (Gold Alley).

Nafisah received instruction in Sharia sciences, writing, arithmetic, and the Holy Qur'an from her father, Shaykh Salih. Her father was a student of knowledge who had emigrated from Patani to Makkah to continue his religious education under Makkah's scholars. He was closely associated with Shaykh Muhammad bin Isma'il Fatani, a Makkah scholar who held a study circle (halaqah) in the Grand Mosque. Salih Zain Al-Abidin excelled among the students and was taken on as a trusted employee in the Tawafah (pilgrim guidance) business for pilgrims from Malaysia and Patani. Salih played a major role in serving the pilgrims in Arafat and Mina, providing them with accommodation in Makkah, and welcoming them upon their arrival via steamships in Jeddah—the sole means of transport at the time, which often presented great difficulty in receiving the pilgrims.

Marriage and Emigration
Salih Zain Al-Abidin Fatani proposed to Shaykh Muhammad bin Isma'il's daughter, Khadijah, who was one of the family's most beautiful young women. Nafisah was the first child born of this blessed marriage. She grew up possessing traits of beauty, good manners, religious knowledge, and memorization of Qur'anic verses, alongside undertaking the responsibility of household duties and preparing food.

When the First World War (c. 1914–1918 CE) broke out, fear and hardship spread in the Sacred Land of Makkah. Nafisah traveled to Malaysia with her parents and her siblings, Jawahir, Kulthum, and their brother Mahmoud. They arrived at the port of Penang and settled in the town of Terengganu.

Among those who traveled to Malaysia to escape the war-related issues was the young man Yahya bin Abdullah Fatani and his sisters Asiya, Maymunah, and Hafsah, and their brother Muhammad Kamil. They had previously attended schools in Makkah, lived among its people, and learned their language and traditions.

During this journey, Nafisah married her cousin, Yahya bin Abdullah, and Asiya married her cousin, Ahmad bin Muhammad Nur Fatani. Jawahir married Abdul Ghaffar bin Muhammad Nur Fatani.

Return to Makkah and Widowhood
Nafisah lived an independent life with her husband Yahya. Yahya worked in Terengganu for several years until they were destined to return to Makkah. Yahya brought his wife Nafisah and their children Abdullah and Asma with him. They settled in a dedicated Fatani Waqf (endowment) house in Al-Qashashiyyah, Makkah.

Following the death of Shaykh Muhammad Nur Fatani in 1944 CE (1363 AH), Shaykh Yahya bin Abdullah Fatani moved to the large Fatani family house. They resided on the first floor, which had served as the residence and office of Shaykh Muhammad Nur. They used the prominent part of the first-floor apartment as a council room (Majlis), and the other part of the first floor in the smaller house served as a complement to this Majlis.

Yahya became a Mutawwif (pilgrim guide) for pilgrims from Malaysia and Patani. Nafisah helped her husband's income by excelling in the craft of making Karabu (a type of cracker) and sugared sweets for children. She also mastered the production of Javanese Ketchup and sold it through her own method to help Yahya with expenses.

Nafisah gave birth to her sons Zain Al-Abidin, Faisal, and Zakariya and her daughters Aishah and Fawziyah.

Tragically, on an ill-fated day, Yahya traveled to Jeddah to receive his pilgrims and his uncle, Daud bin Muhammad Isma'il Fatani, arriving from Malaysia. On the way, the car carrying Yahya bin Abdullah Fatani and his young son Faisal (who was under ten) caught fire. Yahya died in the accident.

This was a profound shock for Nafisah, who lost her husband, breadwinner, and the father of her children: the eldest son Abdullah, and the young children Zain Al-Abidin, Faisal, Zakariya, Asma, Aishah, and Fawziyah.

However, Nafisah remained resilient, entrusting her affairs to God. She covered the family's expenses by continuing to produce and sell the Javanese foodstuffs. Additionally, she supported and encouraged her son Abdullah in the Tawafah business.

Subsequent Life and Family Growth
Her son Abdullah, now a young man, was compelled to find work. He worked in several fields, including being a driver transporting goods to Riyadh and other cities outside Makkah, before focusing entirely on the Hajj business. He succeeded in attracting pilgrims of high social standing from Malaysia, such as Dato' and Tengku.

When it was time for his marriage, Nafisah arranged for Abdullah to marry Safiyyah, the beautiful eldest daughter of Ahmad Muhammad Nur Fatani, whose mother was Asiya (the sister of Nafisah's late husband, Yahya). It was a blessed marriage.

Safiyyah moved in with Yahya's family, marrying their eldest son Abdullah. Her skill in cooking, housework, and hospitality proved helpful in preparing food for her husband Abdullah's pilgrims. Nafisah, renowned for her culinary expertise and household management, mentored Safiyyah. Their daughter Asma was also adept at preparing food for the incoming pilgrims and assisted her mother in cooking for the large family.

Safiyyah gave birth to her daughter Nur Al-Huda, who was raised under the care of her parents and the attention of her grandmother, Nafisah.

Zain Al-Abidin grew up, graduated from high school, and worked at the Second Summary Court. He helped cover the expenses of the large house and took on the Hajj duties for the pilgrims coming under the name of his brother, Abdullah Yahya.

Zain Al-Abidin married Khadijah bint Shaykh Muhammad Nur Fatani. They lived with the family for a few months until Zain Al-Abidin was able to purchase land in the Al-Aziziyah neighborhood and build a two-story house there. They moved to the new house after Khadijah gave birth to their children Hilmi and Amal.

Nafisah moved to live with her son Zain Al-Abidin in Al-Aziziyah, accompanied by her daughters Asma and Aishah. Her daughter Fawziyah had married Shaykh Hamid Muhammad Nur Fatani, lived with her husband, and gave birth to sons and daughters.

Social Life
Nafisah bint Salih Fatani's social life was rich and vibrant. She was dedicated to serving her mother in various ways. Her relationship with her brother Mahmoud's wife, who lived directly on the floor above her in the smaller Fatani house, was full of warmth, love, and mutual visits. They shared morning visits, often joined by her sister-in-law Asiya bint Abdullah Fatani (Ahmad Muhammad Nur Fatani's wife). Nafisah also met with her sister Jawahir, who lived in the same building, and her daughters. The relationship with Zakiyyah Muhammad Nur Fatani and her sisters, who also lived in the same building, was close, with continuous visits and conversations. They would often spend Ramadan nights either staying over or on Zakiyyah Muhammad Nur's rooftop terrace.

Nafisah also joined her relatives in visiting her brother Mahmoud's property, which he bought in Al-Aziziyah and built an apartment and courtyard in. They would spend the afternoon there, engaging in delightful conversation, sharing tea and nuts, and sometimes having dinner and various snacks. Nafisah enjoyed these gatherings with Asiya Abdullah, Aminah Muhammad Nur, Jawahir and her daughters, sometimes joined by Zakiyyah and her sisters. These gatherings continued for a long time
Nafisah Bint Saleh Fatani: The Final Years and Passing
The gatherings at the large Al-Qashashiyyah house continued until it was eventually demolished.

Nafisah would also spend periods of time at the house of her son, Faisal Yahya Fatani, which he had built in the Al-Shishah neighborhood. She lived with him and her two daughters, Asma and Aisha, for several months before Faisal moved to Malaysia for work for several years.

Nafisah also cared for her son Zakariya, who spent his young adult years living in the Al-Qashashiyyah house until he completed his high school studies. Zakariya then traveled on a scholarship to the United States, graduated as a metallurgical engineer, and returned to the Kingdom in 1961 CE (1381 AH) to work as an engineer at the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.

In 1975 CE (1395 AH), Nafisah Bint Saleh Fatani passed away. At the time, her son Faisal was traveling for work in Malaysia. Her eldest son, Zain Al-Abidin, along with her other children and grandchildren, took charge of her funeral arrangements. She was prayed over at the Grand Mosque (Al-Haram Al-Makki Al-Sharif) and buried in the Al-Ma'lat Cemetery in Makkah.

(May God have mercy on you, Nafisah, a mother devoted to God and His Messenger, a caregiver to her children, and a tireless partner to her husband in life. May God unite us with you in the abode of His mercy at the Fountain of His Noble Prophet, where we will drink a draught after which we shall never thirst.)