Fatimah binte Sulaiman facts for kids
Hajjah Fatimah binte Sulaiman (born around 1754, died around 1852) was an important merchant and generous giver in Singapore. People also knew her as Hajjah Fatimah or the "Sultana of Gowa". After her second husband passed away, she took over his business. She combined it with her own ships and created a very successful trading company that worked by sea.
Hajjah Fatimah is most famous for building the mosque that carries her name, Masjid Hajjah Fatimah. She also funded homes for people in need next to the mosque. Because of her kindness and generosity, Hajjah Fatimah was honored in the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2014.
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Early Life and Business Success
Fatimah binte Sulaiman was born in Malacca, Malaysia. She came from a family who were successful traders. We are not sure of her exact birth year, but it is thought to be around 1754.
After her first marriage did not work out, she married Daing Chanda Pulih. He was a prince and merchant from the Bugis people in South Sulawesi. At that time, this place was called Celebes. Pulih had a trading post in Singapore. He brought Fatimah binte Sulaiman to live on the island with him.
Building a Trading Empire
Sadly, Pulih died when Fatimah was still young. She then took charge of his business. She added her own boats to his trading operations. She built a very successful business using both steamships and sailboats. This made her very wealthy.
Before her husband died, Fatimah had a daughter with him named Raja Siti. Raja Siti later married Syed Ahmad Abdulrahman Alsagoff. His family, the Alsagoff Family, became well-known for their own acts of kindness, just like Fatimah.
The Pilgrimage to Mecca
Fatimah is often called "Hajjah Fatimah". This title shows that she completed the Hajj, which is a special pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. The exact year she died is not known. However, her family believes she lived to be 98 years old. She is buried at the Masjid Hajjah Fatimah, along with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law. Several of their family members are also buried there.
Masjid Hajjah Fatimah: A Gift to the Community
Hajjah Fatimah's great wealth led to her being called the "Sultana of Gowa". Her home in Kampong Glam became a target for thieves. It was robbed twice. During the second robbery, her house was even set on fire.
A Mosque for Gratitude
After the fire, Fatimah was very thankful that she was not home during the robberies and was not hurt. She decided to use her money and the land where her house stood to build a mosque. This mosque became known as the Masjid Hajjah Fatimah.
Fatimah also rebuilt her own house. She then used her money to build homes for people in need. These homes were right next to the new mosque. The Masjid Hajjah Fatimah is one of only a few mosques in the world named after a woman.
Honoring a Philanthropist
Because of her generous spirit and her role in building the mosque, Hajjah Fatimah binte Sulaiman was honored. She was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame in 2014. This was the very first year the Hall of Fame was created. She had previously been part of a smaller "Wall of Fame" that later grew into the larger Hall of Fame.
