Nafīsah the daughter of Shaykh Muḥammad al-Zamzamī al-Kettānī was born during her grandfather’s, Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ja’far al-Kettānī’s travel to Beirut. It was there that her mother, ‘Āishah bint al-Khidr went into labour. The family remained for about two months in Beirut. This was in 1926 (1345).

This family had a great impact in propagating Islam and thus the young Nafīsah grew up in this environment. She acquired many noble qualities from her father, her grandfather and her paternal uncle, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Makkī al-Kettānī.

It was her grandfather who named her after Nafīsah, the daughter of Ḥusayn (the grandson of our Prophet Muḥammad).

She grew up in Fez, Morocco where her family was actively involved in the national movement, one of which was established in Shaykh Aḥmad ibn Ja’far al-Kettānī’s home (her father’s paternal uncle).

This movement comprised of many influential persons that included Shaykh Muḥammad Ibrāhīm ibn Aḥmad al-Kettānī, ‘Alāl al-Fāsi, al-Mukhtār al-Sūsī and others.

Other family members like her brothers, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Muntaṣir, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Nāṣir, her uncles, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Ṭāīe and Shaykh Idrīs played a major role in the national movement that eventually established cells to combat French colonialism.

Because of the large number of scholars in her family, this atmosphere of Islamic scholarship, pure Taṣawwuf and patriotism had influenced her.

Her father played a major role in educating the youth and no sooner had she matured when her father got her married to Shaykh ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn al–Imām Muḥammad al-Bāqir ibn Imām Muḥammad ibn ‘Abd al-Kabīr al-Kettānī.

She moved to the city of Sala to live with her husband. This home was also a hub of activity for people connected to the Kettānī Sufi Order and for other scholars. Personalities like Sa’īd Ramaḍān from Egypt, Abu al-Alā al-Mawdūdī and Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan ‘Alī al-Nadwī from the Indian Sub-Continent, Shaykh ‘Abd al-Fattāḥ Abū Ghuddah from Syria and other luminaries from Hijaz and elsewhere visited this home.

She pleasantly and graciously welcomed and served the guests. In addition, the orphans and widows and other women found solace in her home. She cared for the students of al-Madrasah al-Kettāniyah that was established by her husband in 1956. He brought hundreds of students from the villages to complete their studies that included the memorization of the Quran.

Shaykhah Nafīsah played a major role in combating colonialism and she even conducted lectures and lessons for an organization known as ‘Jamiyat Banāt al-Ṣafā’. During these lessons, she encouraged the women to don the hijab and to adhere to the teachings of Islam. She accompanied her husband for Haj in 1973 and in 1977. During the second trip they visited Egypt and Syria where she was received warmly and where she delivered some lectures.

Her life was spent in the service of Islam and she was fortunate to have received ijāzah from luminaries, particularly her grandfather, Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ja’far al-Kettānī, Shaykh Muḥammad al-Bāqir al-Kettānī, the renowned muḥaddith from Pakistan, Shaykh Muḥammad ‘Abd al-Rashīd Nu’mānī and others. Because of her high sanad, many scholars sought ijāzah from her.

Her children were all scholars. They are; Nuzhah (mother of Shaykh Ḥamza and Shaykh Ḥasan al-Kettānī), Shaykh Badr al-Dīn, Muḥammad al-Ḥabib, Dr Muḥammad Nafs al-Zakiyyah, Shams al-‘Arab, Mulaykah, Dr Nūr al-Hudā and Fāimah al-Zahrā.

On the last day of Ramadan, about an hour before ifṭār, she fell and remained unconscious for five days. She passed away on a Friday in 2006 (Shawwal 1427). She is buried in the Shuhadā graveyard in Rabat, Morocco.