Miss Malakah Atā Allāh

Who was Malakah Atā Allāh?

Malakah Atā Allāh was an 18 (eighteen) year-old Syrian seamstress who tragically lost her life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in Beirut, Syria (now Lebanon) around 1894, she was a third-class passenger on the ill-fated voyage, embarking on a journey to reunite with her father in the United States.

Early Life and Background

A Family Divided

• Born in Beirut, Syria (now Lebanon) circa 1894
• Daughter of Sim’ān Yūsuf ‘Atā Allāh (born around 1865)
• Had several siblings
• Father emigrated to the USA in 1902, settling in Texas
• Mother passed away around 1911

Malakah’s early life was marked by separation and loss. Her father’s decision to emigrate to the United States in 1902 left the family divided across continents. The death of her mother around 1911 likely served as a catalyst for Malakah’s decision to join her father in America.

What was Malakah’s profession?

Malakah was a seamstress by trade, a skill that would have been valuable both in her home country and in her anticipated new life in the United States. This profession reflects the industrious nature of many immigrants seeking better opportunities abroad.

The Titanic Journey

Embarkation and Ticket Details

Malakah boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, as a third-class passenger. She was not traveling alone; her brother-in-law, Yūsuf Hānī Ibrāhīm-Shawah, accompanied her on this fateful journey. They shared a joint ticket, number 2627, which cost £14 9s 2d.

Why was Malakah traveling to America?

Malakah’s primary motivation for the journey was to reunite with her father in Texas. The recent loss of her mother likely intensified her desire to join her remaining parent and start a new life in America. This poignant family reunion, tragically, would never come to pass.

Fate During the Disaster

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, Malakah Atā Allāh became one of the many victims of the Titanic disaster. At just 18 years old, her promising life was cut short in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Neither Malakah nor her brother-in-law survived the sinking, and their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

The loss of young lives like Malakah’s underscores the profound tragedy of the Titanic disaster, which claimed passengers from all walks of life, regardless of age or future potential.

Legacy and Impact

How did the Titanic disaster affect Malakah’s family?

The sinking of the Titanic had lasting repercussions for Malakah’s family:

1. Her father, Sim’ān, received compensation:

   • $500 from the American Red Cross
   • £15 from the Titanic Relief Fund

2. Sim’ān continued his life in America:

   • By 1920, he was living in San Antonio, Texas
   • Worked as a fruit and vegetable peddler
   • Passed away on January 13, 1929
   • Buried in San Fernando Cemetery

The tragic loss of Malakah and her brother-in-law left a void in their family, with Sim’ān left to mourn his daughter’s untimely death. The financial compensation, while unable to replace the loss of loved ones, provided some support in the aftermath of the disaster.

Malakah Atā Allāh’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the dreams and aspirations of many immigrants who sought a better life aboard the Titanic, only to have their hopes dashed by one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history. Her youth, her profession as a seamstress, and her journey to reunite with family all paint a vivid picture of the human stories behind the Titanic’s third-class passengers.