By the time of Ismail's death, Fatima was a highly influential figure at court and she helped secure the ascension of her grandson Muhammad IV, son of Ismail.[27] As Muhammad was only ten years old, Fatima, and a guardian named Abu Nuaym Ridwan, served as tutor and a sort of regent for the young sultan,[28] and they took active role in government.[27][29] Ibn al-Khatib referred to her during this period as jaddat al-sultan (The Sultan's Grandmother"), and according to historian Bárbara Boloix Gallardo, this was the peak period of Fatima's political activity.[30] The assassination of the vizier Ibn al-Mahruq, on the order of Muhammad IV in 1328, occurred while he was in the palace of Fatima discussing the emirate's affairs as he regularly did.[29][31] Boloix Gallardo speculated that she might have been involved in planning or masterminding this assassination.[32]