Post Updated: Friday, October 9, 2026
Nidal Malik Hasan was born in Arlington, Virginia, on September 8, 1970, to Palestinian immigrant parents who built a new life in the United States through hard work and small business ownership. His father, Malik Awadallah Hassan, and mother, Hanan Ismail “Nora” Hasan, came from the West Bank and established themselves as naturalized American citizens in Virginia. Their story is one of immigration, entrepreneurship, and family life in the Roanoke area long before their son’s name entered public attention.
Both parents died years before 2009, leaving behind three sons and a record of community involvement through their restaurants and store.
Table of Contents
Malik Awadallah Hassan: The Father and Business Owner
Malik Awadallah Hassan immigrated from al-Bireh, a city in the West Bank near Jerusalem. He arrived in the United States as a teenager in the early 1960s and later settled in Virginia. By the mid-1980s he had moved to the Roanoke area, where he opened and operated several successful small businesses.
These included a market, a grocery store known as the Community Grocery Store, and restaurants such as the Mount Olive Grill and Bar and the Capitol Restaurant. Malik was remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur who created opportunities for his family. He died in 1998 at the age of 51.
Hanan Ismail “Nora” Hasan: The Mother and Community Figure
Hanan Ismail Hasan, widely known as Nora, was born in Palestine on January 15, 1952. She came to the United States as a young girl and later joined her husband in Roanoke in 1986. Nora played an active role in running the family’s restaurants and store.
Local accounts described her as a warm and capable presence who managed rowdy customers with skill and often provided meals to people in need. She was a central figure in the family’s daily operations and community life. Nora died on May 30, 2001, at the age of 49, after a period of illness.
Family Life and Immigrant Roots in Virginia
The Hasans raised three sons—Nidal (the eldest), Anas (also referred to as Eyad in some reports), and another brother—in a Muslim household. The family first lived in the Arlington area before relocating to Roanoke and nearby Vinton in the mid-1980s so Malik could expand the businesses.
Key points about their background include:
- Both parents were naturalized U.S. citizens of Palestinian origin from the al-Bireh area.
- The family maintained connections with relatives in the West Bank, including al-Bireh and Ramallah.
- The children helped with the family businesses while growing up.
- The parents opposed Nidal’s decision to join the U.S. Army after high school, preferring other paths.
- After their deaths, extended family members publicly expressed shock and rejected the actions associated with their son.
One brother remained in Virginia while another later lived in the Palestinian territories. The parents’ early deaths marked a significant change for the family.
Quick Facts About Nidal Malik Hasan’s Parents
Detail Information Father Malik Awadallah Hassan (died 1998, age 51) Mother Hanan Ismail “Nora” Hasan (born 1952, died 2001) Origin Palestinian immigrants from al-Bireh, West Bank U.S. Settlement Arlington then Roanoke/Vinton, Virginia Occupations Owned market, grocery store, and restaurants Children Three sons, including Nidal Citizenship Naturalized American citizens Notable Trait Built successful small businesses through hard work
Conclusion
Malik and Nora Hasan’s lives reflected a familiar immigrant journey: leaving the West Bank, establishing businesses in Virginia, raising a family, and contributing to their local community through restaurants and a store. Both passed away well before 2009—Malik in 1998 and Nora in 2001—leaving their sons to continue without them. Their story remains one of hard work, cultural roots, and family enterprise in America. Understanding their background provides context for the household in which Nidal Malik Hasan was raised, separate from later events that drew national attention.
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