Sheikh Abdullah, the eldest son of the esteemed scholar Sheikh Muhammad bin Ismail, was exceptionally devoted to his father, dedicating his youth to his service. Abdullah received his education in religious and jurisprudence sciences directly from his scholar father, Muhammad bin Ismail al-Fatani.
When his father passed away in 1915, the young Abdullah finally stepped out from beneath his father's dominant and strict shadow, a shadow where the echo of his father's voice still seemed to call out, demanding the dutiful reply, "Here I am, Father." He finally felt a sudden sense of liberation from the burden of constantly awaiting his father’s exacting commands.
Sheikh Muhammad Ismail al-Fatani, also known as Sheikh Ni' Ma' Kechik, was a Hajj Mutawwif (Hajj guide) and a Hajj agent appointed by the ruler of the Hijaz. His role was to serve pilgrims from Southeast Asia, providing them with accommodation, food, and transport. Although he held the official license, he rarely had to perform the tasks himself; instead, a dedicated and efficient team of experienced pilgrims and his own sons capably managed all the requirements, including lodging, meals, and ground logistics in Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Arafat, and the Jeddah seaport.
In 1911, Sheikh Abdullah married Fatimah Abdul Rahman Ali Kutan. Fatimah was the daughter of the sister of Sheikh Muhammad Noor’s wife, Safiah, and the sister of Wan Daud, who was married to Fatimah bint Muhammad Ismail.
Upon his father’s death, Sheikh Abdullah took over the Hajj pilgrimage guide (Tawafah) operations. He was assisted by his brother, Muhammad Noor, his brother-in-law Wan Daud (who was married to his sister, Fatimah), his son-in-law Wan Salih bin Sheikh Zainal Abidin (who was married to his sister, Khadijah), and his brother Daud. He also had help from Muhammad Noor's young sons, including Ahmad, Zain, Abdul Ghafar, Hassan, Yasin, and Hamid. They provided comfort and services to pilgrims from the Jawis (Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia, and Siam), including dignitaries like the Sultan of Terengganu.
In 1916, the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Zainal Abidin III, performed the Hajj with his entourage of fifteen people. Sheikh Abdullah personally attended to the Sultan, who was greatly pleased with the hospitality he received. Consequently, Sultan Zainal Abidin III invited him to Terengganu and promised him a piece of land. In fact, Abdullah was already a cousin of the Sultan, as he was married at that time to Aishah Mandak bint Mustafa, the daughter of his father's (Sheikh Muhammad bin Ismail Patani) maternal aunt, Wan Salma.
Around this time, as World War I had begun in Europe, Abdullah regularly received news from pilgrims that Patani Muslims were being harassed by the Buddhist rulers of Siam. Many scholars had mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Makkah itself was unstable due to the war over the rule of the Hijaz between the Sharifs (the rulers of Mecca) and the Ottoman Empire. Feeling unsafe in Makkah, Sheikh Abdullah was constantly contemplating seeking refuge and fleeing to a secure area
Relocation to Terengganu and Royal Lineage
Abdullah accepted the invitation of Sultan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu to relocate there. His decision was significantly influenced by the fact that his ancestors, Tuanku Ahmad and Tuanku Idris, belonged to the Patani royal lineage. This line, which originated with al-Faqih Ali and his descendants, once ruled Patani and is the very foundation of the current Kelantan Royal House. This heritage established a powerful link between the royal houses of Patani, Kelantan, and Terengganu.
The Move and Settlement (1919)
In 1919, Sheikh Abdullah decided to move his family to Terengganu, entrusting his brother, Sheikh Muhammad Nur, with the management of the Tawaf (Pilgrim Guide) business. He and his family settled on the promised plot of land at Balik Bukit, Terengganu. His family included his wife, Fatimah Abdul Rahman, and their four children: the eldest son Yahya (five), Asia (four), Kamil (three), and Maimunah (two). Fatimah Abdul Rahman was born in Mecca, but her mother hailed from Losong, only two kilometers from Balik Bukit. All these factors provided a logical justification for his departure from Mecca to Terengganu.
Untimely Death in Patani
Soon after his family settled on the land at Balik Bukit, Sheikh Abdullah immediately announced to his wife that he would travel to Kersik in Southern Thailand (Patani), the city of his ancestors. He could not wait for the birth of his youngest daughter, Hafsah. Three months after arriving in Kersik, his wife received news of his severe illness and his plea for her and the children to join him in Kersik. Fate, however, did not grant them a chance to see or speak to him. He passed away the very evening his wife and children arrived in 1919. Sheikh Abdullah was buried in Patani, next to the tomb of the renowned Meccan scholar, Sheikh Abdul Samad al-Falimbani
Fatimah was initially forced to remain in Patani until the birth of Hafsah. Furthermore, her relatives strongly insisted that she and her family should stay in Patani permanently. Given these circumstances, in 1919, his wife, Fatimah Abdul Rahman, decided to return to Terengganu for safety and comfort. Her family resided in the village of Losong, near Balik Kampung, and the political climate in Terengganu was considered much safer than in the southern part of Thailand.
In 1920, his brother, Sheikh Muhammad Noor, unexpectedly appeared in Krisek. At that time, he was the senior and most respected figure of the Muhammad bin Ismail family. He instructed his brother Sheikh Abdullah's family to pack their belongings and relocate with him back to Makkah. Since the passing of his brother Abdullah, Muhammad Noor had risen from the second-in-command to the head of the family. According to the culture of Makkah's people, the family head is responsible for the safety and welfare of all family members. Therefore, without discussion or consultation, Sheikh Muhammad Noor Patani commanded his brother's wife, Fatimah, to return to Makkah with her children so that they could be near him, allowing him to care for their interests. Sheikh Muhammad Noor was indeed a man of great leadership qualities
The First World War had ended, yet the government of the Hejaz remained unstable. Battles raged across the region, especially in Taif, Mecca, and Jeddah, claiming the lives of many citizens. As King Abdulaziz sought to regain control of the Hejaz, Mecca was deemed unsafe. In , in a brave decision against the wishes of the family patriarch, Fatimah Abdul Rahman, Abdullah's wife, decided to move with her family and permanently settle in . Facing her insistence, Shaykh Muhammad Nur acquiesced to her desire.
Fatimah traveled to Terengganu, finding herself alone in the village, raising five children. The eldest, Yahya, was only twelve years old at the time. Initially, the family was a heavy burden on young Yahya, but he managed to establish a printing company in Balik Bukit to publish books written by his grandfather, Shaykh Nik Mat Kechik. His sister, Maimunah, recounts that Yahya was a serious, struggling, and strict person whose strong character was feared by his three sisters—Maimunah, Asiah, and Hafsah—and his younger brother, Kamil. Their father, Shaykh Abdullah, was preoccupied with serving his own father and did not stand out or achieve distinction in his own life.
Despite this, Abdullah, the son of Shaykh Muhammad bin Ismail, left behind a legacy of new generations who have excelled in various fields in the modern world. The family's new life began in the quiet village of Balik Bukit, known as . The great man's only true legacy was his children: Yahya, Asiah, Muhammad Kamil, Maimunah, and Hafsah. May God have mercy on Shaykh Abdullah and grant him paradise.