For Brothers! Join a brotherhood that hikes through life’s ups and downs, finding strength and community in the great outdoors. Our Monthly MCC Brothers Hike caters to various fitness levels and explores East Bay’s serene landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking to start, we welcome you to share in this journey of fellowship and discovery.
For this Fajr Hike, brothers are welcome to join us at MCC for Fajr prayer, followed by dhikr until sunrise, then Ishraq (Duha) prayer before heading to the trailhead. If preferred, you may meet us directly at the trailhead. Light refreshments will be available after Fajr for those who come early.
Sunday, April 13 | 5:45 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. | Pleasanton Ridge | No children, please (teenage boys, okay) | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike
If brothers want to walk around more, they can do it depending on their interest/time. The hike will be canceled with insufficient RSVPs, depending on the weather.
- When: Sunday, April 13, 2025
- Time:
- 5:45 a.m. Fajr at MCC (optional)
- 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Hike
- Carpool: We highly recommend carpooling. No carpool from MCC is available for this hike.
- Parking: Free
- Meeting Point: Foothill Staging Area
- Trail: Oak Tree – Woodland Loop
- Distance: Around 1.8 miles.
- Difficulty: Moderate.
- Misc: Pack a snack and water for yourself. Wear hiking shoes if possible. Bring a small breakfast/ Lunch sandwich or something to eat. Carry enough water, a hat, and a light jacket. Please download the All Trails map (free version) if you decide to return in the middle of the hike. This will be very helpful when navigating back to the parking lot.
- RSVP: By Saturday, April 12, please let us know you are coming for this hike: https://mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike
Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry a water bottle, a small snack, a hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have any.
Mohammed Kadoura leads these monthly hikes for the brothers. If you have trouble finding the group on the day of the hike, please call or text Br. Mohammed at (617) 935-7347. Please remember that we cannot hold all of the group, so we request you to please be on time.
For future hikes, please subscribe to the MCC newsletter and add your phone number to the Men’s Hiking WhatsApp group.
Virtue of Dhikr after Fajr until Sunrise
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, will have a reward like that of Hajj and ‘Umrah, complete, complete, complete.”
— (Tirmidhi 586, graded Hasan by Al-Albani)
Reward for Praying Fajr and ‘Isha in Congregation
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever prays ‘Isha in congregation, it is as if he has stood in prayer for half the night. And whoever prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he has stood in prayer the entire night.”
— (Muslim 656)
Blessings in the Early Morning
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“O Allah, bless my Ummah in the early morning.”
— (Abu Dawood 2606, Ibn Majah 2236, graded Sahih)
The Prophet’s Love for Duha Prayer
Abu Huraira (RA) reported:
“My beloved (the Prophet ﷺ) advised me to do three things: to fast three days of every month, to pray two rak‘ahs of Duha, and to pray Witr before sleeping.”
— (Bukhari 1981, Muslim 721)
Questions? hiking@mcceastbay.org
About this trail:
This beautiful trail leads visitors through the majestic oak trees of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and offers some lovely views of Sunol and the surrounding hills. The best time to visit is early in the morning or later on in the day to escape the sun.
The trail features brief climbs, flat stretches and lovely views from the summit. Plenty of parking is at the Foothill Staging Area trailhead on Foothill Road.