BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//MCC East Bay - ECPv6.16.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:MCC East Bay
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://mcceastbay.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for MCC East Bay
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Los_Angeles
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20250309T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20251102T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20260308T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20261101T090000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0800
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:PDT
DTSTART:20270314T100000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0800
TZNAME:PST
DTSTART:20271107T090000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260523T103000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260523T120000
DTSTAMP:20260518T211753
CREATED:20260507T182540Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260516T123825Z
UID:10026804-1779532200-1779537600@mcceastbay.org
SUMMARY:Being Muslim: Monthly Convert Bookclub | Ustadh Omar Naisan
DESCRIPTION:For All New Muslim Women & Men (regardless of when you took your Shahadah): The Being Muslim Bookclub is dedicated to empowering converts and beginning Muslims to live Islam in a practical\, sustainable way. This week\, with guest speaker Dr. Ali Ataie \nEach month\, we delve into one chapter to gain clarity on how to live and practice Islam\, exploring the foundational elements of what Muslims believe. \nThis eight-month book club with Ustadh Omar Naisan is for all reverts\, regardless of when you took your Shahadah. It is invaluable to those new to their journey in Islam and those returning to faith. \n10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Free ; Register for this session at mcceastbay.org/convert-bookclub | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live \n\n– Watch past recordings of “Being Muslim Bookclub”: http://mcceastbay.org/being-muslim\n– More Sidi Omer Naisan: http://mcceastbay.org/omar\n\n  \nSchedule of Events\n10:30 AM – Program BeginsProgram starts as usual. \n10:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Interfaith DialogueDr. Ali will host an interfaith dialogue\, moderated alongside limited commentary by [Name]\, inshaAllah.We especially encourage Christian members of the community\, former Christians who are now Muslim\, and their families to attend. \n12:00 PM – 12:30 PM – Theology & Theory of Prayer SessionA discussion on the theology and theory of prayer from the Being Muslim book. \n12:30 PM – 1:00 PM – Wudu SeminarA practical and educational seminar on wudu. \n1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Lunch & Dhuhr Break \n2:00 PM – 3:30/4:00 PM – Prayer SeminarAn in-depth seminar focused on prayer. \nDr. Ali Ataie is a scholar of biblical hermeneutics with field specialties in Sacred Languages\, Comparative Theology\, and Comparative Literature. At Zaytuna College\, Dr. Ataie has taught Arabic\, Creedal Theology\, Comparative Theology\, Sciences of the Quran\, Introduction to the Qur’an\, and Seminal Ancient Texts. He received his BS in accounting from Cal Poly State University in 2000. In 2011\, he received his MA in Biblical Studies from Pacific School of Religion\, and in 2016\, his PhD in Cultural and Historical Studies in Religion from the Graduate Theological Union. Dr. Ataie’s PhD thesis\, titled “Authenticating the Johannine Injil: Muslim ‘Polemirenic’ Interpretive Approaches to the Gospel of John\,” is a faith-based hermeneutic of the Gospel of John in which the entire text is authenticated as being the true Gospel of Jesus Christ mentioned in the Qur’an. Dr. Ataie is a native Persian speaker. He can read and write Arabic\, Hebrew\, and Greek. \n  \nMCC’s new Muslim Coordinator\, Blanca Vizcarra\, facilitates these monthly meetings. She can be reached at blanca@mcceastbay.org or 301-675-6264. \nQuestions? events@mcceastbay.org  \n\nSaturday\, January 10\, 2026 (Chapters 1 & 2)\nSaturday\, February 14\, 2026 (Chapter 3)\nNo session in March during Ramadan break\nSaturday\, April 18\, 2026 (Chapter 4)\nSaturday\, May 23\, 2026 (Chapter 5) – Hosted by Dr. Ali Ataie\nSaturday\, June 13\, 2026 (Chapter 6)\nSaturday\, July 11\, 2026 (Chapter 7)\nSaturday\, August 8\, 2026 (Chapter 8)\n\n(recommended by not required getting the book “Being Muslim: A Practical Guide”: https://a.co/d/30W2yXM) \nThe Being Muslim book club provides attendees with practical knowledge they can apply in their daily lives. Whether you are new to the religion or want to freshen up on the basics\, the material is designed to deepen your connection to the most essential aspects of Islam through a holistic integration of the three branches of the religion: true beliefs (imān)\, good conduct (islām)\, and beauty of character (iḥsān). \nWe will cover a broad array of subjects\, including core theology\, purification and prayer\, the path of spiritual refinement\, a survey of the life of the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم\, an introduction to the Qur’an\, how to live an ethical\, Islam-centered lifestyle\, and more. New Muslims of all backgrounds and ages are welcome.  \nIn our monthly chapter readings\, we will focus on foundational beliefs\, worship\, spiritual refinement\, lifestyle\, and more. We recommend this book club for those seeking a deeper meaning in their faith.  \nAbout the Facilitator \nUstadh Omar Naisan is a Ph.D. student in the Historical & Cultural Studies of Religion program at the Graduate Theological Union. He holds a Master of Arts in New Testament from the Graduate Theological Union. His published MA thesis is titled “Decrypting the Son of Man Problem: An Inquiry into the Dominant Approaches to the Son of Man Problem and its Conspicuous Application in Mark 8:27-31.” His interests include comparative theology\, philology in religious corpora\, and historical-critical studies of religious canons.  \n– More Ustadh Omar: http://mcceastbay.org/omar  \nAbout the Author\nAfter completing his bachelor’s degree in Islamic studies at the University of Michigan\, Asad Tarsin continued his private study of Islamic theology\, sacred law\, philosophy\, and spirituality with various scholars\, including Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Dr. Sherman Jackson. He has served on the board of the Deen Intensive Foundation for over fifteen years. He has a particular interest in creating sustainable models of education for new and returning Muslims\, as well as educating the broader public about the beauty of Islam. “Being Muslim: A Practical Guide” is his first published work. Dr. As’ad Tarsin is an emergency physician by training and lives in Michigan with his wife and three children.
URL:https://mcceastbay.org/event/convert-bookclub-2-2-2/
LOCATION:MCC East Bay\, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300\, Pleasanton\, CA\, 94588\, United States
CATEGORIES:Classes & Activities,Lectures & Workshops,New Muslims
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcceastbay.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Convert-Bookclub-2.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Muslim Community Center - East Bay":MAILTO:events@mcceastbay.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260530
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTSTAMP:20260518T211753
CREATED:20260501T010100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T003028Z
UID:10026794-1780099200-1780185599@mcceastbay.org
SUMMARY:Finding God: Understanding the Spiritual Path | Ustadh Abdullah Qureshi
DESCRIPTION:What exactly is the path to God? The spiritual practice of Islam\, known as tasawwuf\, is commonly misunderstood. What are the qualities of a seeker\, and what is he seeking? What is the proper role of a spiritual guide\, and how does a person find a qualified guide? What is the nature of the self and other obstacles on the path to God?  \nIn this two-day workshop in collaboration with the Hashimi House\, Ustadh Abdullah Qureshi provides a comprehensive overview of the essence of tasawwuf. We will look at al-Suhrawadri‘s Portrait of a Sincere Seeker Explained\, which is an introduction to the teachings of Sufism\, the meaning of the shaykhs\, the purpose of and obstacles on the path\, and the traits of a sincere seeker.  \n11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Saturday\, May 30 & Sunday\, May 31\, 2026 | MCC Conference Room | Free | $11/ optional lunch (iniBurger) | Register at mcceastbay.org/tasawwuf  | Join us in person only (no virtual option) \nQuestions? events@mcceastbay.org  \n\n– More Ustadh Abdullah: http://mcceastbay.org/abdullah-qureshi\n\nUstadh Abdullah Qureshi is an educator\, translator\, and long-time student of knowledge. He holds a B.A. in Islamic Law and Theology from Zaytuna College and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He has continued to study Islamic law\, legal theory\, theology\, and Sufism in Jordan for several years while translating classical works in these fields. He currently works as a lawyer specializing in Shari’a compliance and previously practiced estate law for Muslims in the U.S. \n \nShihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi (1154–1191)\, often called Shaykh al-Ishraq (Master of Illumination)\, was a Persian philosopher and mystic who founded the School of Illumination (Hikmat al-Ishraq). The “Portrait of a Sincere Seeker” in his work refers to the spiritual and intellectual journey a human soul must undertake to free itself from material constraints and receive divine light. \n\nSuhrawardi’s philosophy merges rigorous intellectual inquiry with the mystical\, intuitive experiences typical of Sufism. \n\n\n\nThe Core Elements of the “Sincere Seeker”\n\n\n\nSuhrawardi’s “seeker” is not merely someone who studies philosophy\, but one who practices it through spiritual purification. \n\n\n\n\n\nAsceticism and Purification (Riyazat): A sincere seeker must detach from the material world\, often referred to as the “Airy Soul\,” to allow the rational soul to be attracted to the divine.\nThe Union of Reason and Intuition: Unlike contemporary philosophers who focused only on logic\, Suhrawardi argued that a seeker must master philosophy and cultivate inner\, personal spiritual experience.\nThe Journey of Light: The seeker is guided to recognize that reality is essentially “Light” (Light of Lights). The goal is for the soul to be illuminated\, moving from a\, “discursive type of knowledge” to direct intuitive experience.\nThe Role of Knowledge: The sincere seeker moves beyond simply reading about truths to experiencing them directly through inspiration and self-disclosure\, often referred to as mushahadah wa mukhashafah. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe Process of Illumination\n\n\nSuhrawardi outlines that the seeker must pass through specific stages:\n\n\n\n\n\nDetach from the Physical: Freeing oneself from the dominance of the sensory\, “airy” soul.\nActivate the Rational/Angelic Soul: Engaging the heart and brain in higher spiritual thought.\nAnnihilation of Selfhood: The seeker achieves a state where they are “annihilated” in the greater divine light and\, if they return to themselves\, they do so having attained “permanence”. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nKey Concepts in Suhrawardi’s Philosophy\n\n\n\n\n\n“Portrait of a Sincere Seeker” is often seen as a visionary journey\, sometimes described as a “Cave Story” that\, similar to Plato’s cave\, represents the human soul’s journey out of the darkness of the body and toward the light of the divine.\nHikmat al-Ishraq: The “Philosophy of Illumination” highlights that light is self-evident and that God is the “Light of Lights”.\nThe Spiritual Guide: The seeker often requires a guide (sometimes identified as Gabriel) to attain the highest knowledge. \n\n\n\n \n\n\nAl-Suhrawardi’s approach is a “turning point” in Islamic philosophy because it bridges the gap between rationalism and intuitive\, mystical knowledge.\n\nFINDING GOD Understanding The Spiritual Path al-Suhrawardi Portrait of a Sincere Seeker Explained Suhrawardi MCC Class Flyer (1)
URL:https://mcceastbay.org/event/what-exactly-is-tasawwuf-hint-it-is-a-verb-shaykh-ibrahim-qureshi/2026-05-30/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Activities,Lectures & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcceastbay.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Key-is-Knowledge-5-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260518T211753
CREATED:20260501T010100Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T003028Z
UID:10026795-1780214400-1780246800@mcceastbay.org
SUMMARY:Finding God: Understanding the Spiritual Path | Ustadh Abdullah Qureshi
DESCRIPTION:What exactly is the path to God? The spiritual practice of Islam\, known as tasawwuf\, is commonly misunderstood. What are the qualities of a seeker\, and what is he seeking? What is the proper role of a spiritual guide\, and how does a person find a qualified guide? What is the nature of the self and other obstacles on the path to God?  \nIn this two-day workshop in collaboration with the Hashimi House\, Ustadh Abdullah Qureshi provides a comprehensive overview of the essence of tasawwuf. We will look at al-Suhrawadri‘s Portrait of a Sincere Seeker Explained\, which is an introduction to the teachings of Sufism\, the meaning of the shaykhs\, the purpose of and obstacles on the path\, and the traits of a sincere seeker.  \n11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Saturday\, May 30 & Sunday\, May 31\, 2026 | MCC Conference Room | Free | $11/ optional lunch (iniBurger) | Register at mcceastbay.org/tasawwuf  | Join us in person only (no virtual option) \nQuestions? events@mcceastbay.org  \n\n– More Ustadh Abdullah: http://mcceastbay.org/abdullah-qureshi\n\nUstadh Abdullah Qureshi is an educator\, translator\, and long-time student of knowledge. He holds a B.A. in Islamic Law and Theology from Zaytuna College and a J.D. from Georgetown University. He has continued to study Islamic law\, legal theory\, theology\, and Sufism in Jordan for several years while translating classical works in these fields. He currently works as a lawyer specializing in Shari’a compliance and previously practiced estate law for Muslims in the U.S. \n \nShihab al-Din al-Suhrawardi (1154–1191)\, often called Shaykh al-Ishraq (Master of Illumination)\, was a Persian philosopher and mystic who founded the School of Illumination (Hikmat al-Ishraq). The “Portrait of a Sincere Seeker” in his work refers to the spiritual and intellectual journey a human soul must undertake to free itself from material constraints and receive divine light. \n\nSuhrawardi’s philosophy merges rigorous intellectual inquiry with the mystical\, intuitive experiences typical of Sufism. \n\n\n\nThe Core Elements of the “Sincere Seeker”\n\n\n\nSuhrawardi’s “seeker” is not merely someone who studies philosophy\, but one who practices it through spiritual purification. \n\n\n\n\n\nAsceticism and Purification (Riyazat): A sincere seeker must detach from the material world\, often referred to as the “Airy Soul\,” to allow the rational soul to be attracted to the divine.\nThe Union of Reason and Intuition: Unlike contemporary philosophers who focused only on logic\, Suhrawardi argued that a seeker must master philosophy and cultivate inner\, personal spiritual experience.\nThe Journey of Light: The seeker is guided to recognize that reality is essentially “Light” (Light of Lights). The goal is for the soul to be illuminated\, moving from a\, “discursive type of knowledge” to direct intuitive experience.\nThe Role of Knowledge: The sincere seeker moves beyond simply reading about truths to experiencing them directly through inspiration and self-disclosure\, often referred to as mushahadah wa mukhashafah. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nThe Process of Illumination\n\n\nSuhrawardi outlines that the seeker must pass through specific stages:\n\n\n\n\n\nDetach from the Physical: Freeing oneself from the dominance of the sensory\, “airy” soul.\nActivate the Rational/Angelic Soul: Engaging the heart and brain in higher spiritual thought.\nAnnihilation of Selfhood: The seeker achieves a state where they are “annihilated” in the greater divine light and\, if they return to themselves\, they do so having attained “permanence”. \n\n\n\n \n\n\n\nKey Concepts in Suhrawardi’s Philosophy\n\n\n\n\n\n“Portrait of a Sincere Seeker” is often seen as a visionary journey\, sometimes described as a “Cave Story” that\, similar to Plato’s cave\, represents the human soul’s journey out of the darkness of the body and toward the light of the divine.\nHikmat al-Ishraq: The “Philosophy of Illumination” highlights that light is self-evident and that God is the “Light of Lights”.\nThe Spiritual Guide: The seeker often requires a guide (sometimes identified as Gabriel) to attain the highest knowledge. \n\n\n\n \n\n\nAl-Suhrawardi’s approach is a “turning point” in Islamic philosophy because it bridges the gap between rationalism and intuitive\, mystical knowledge.\n\nFINDING GOD Understanding The Spiritual Path al-Suhrawardi Portrait of a Sincere Seeker Explained Suhrawardi MCC Class Flyer (1)
URL:https://mcceastbay.org/event/what-exactly-is-tasawwuf-hint-it-is-a-verb-shaykh-ibrahim-qureshi/2026-05-31/
CATEGORIES:Classes & Activities,Lectures & Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://mcceastbay.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/The-Key-is-Knowledge-5-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR