MCC East Bay

Monthly Convert Bookclub | Ustadh Omar Naisan
2026-01-10 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-02-14 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-03-14 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-04-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-05-09 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-06-13 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-07-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2026-08-08 10:30 - 12:00 (America/Los_Angeles) and 5 more dates | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
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.
Each month, we delve into one chapter to gain clarity on how to live and practice Islam, exploring the foundational elements of what Muslims believe.
This 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.
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Second Saturday of Each Month | MCC Banquet Hall | Free; no registeration required
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Saturday, January 10, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
No session in March during Ramadan break
Saturday, April 11, 2026
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Saturday, June 13, 2026
Saturday, July 11, 2026
Saturday, August 8, 2026

Attendees, we recommend getting the“Being Muslim: A Practical Guide”: https://a.co/d/30W2yXM
The 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).
We 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.
In 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.
About the Facilitator
Ustadh 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.
– More Ustadh Omar: http://mcceastbay.org/omar
About the Author
After 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.

Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Old Testament | Ustadh Dr. Ali Ataie
2026-02-07 11:00 - 16:00 | CA
One of the most powerful proofs of prophecy is to demonstrate that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is described in ancient texts whose compositions predate his birth by hundreds and hundreds of years.
In this seminar, Dr. Ali Ataie will guide us through a fascinating historical, exegetical, and linguistic examination of the biblical text in an attempt to validate the Quran’s claim that “the Messenger” and “Gentile/Unlettered Prophet” is “described with them in the Torah and the Gospel,” although the focus will be on the Tanakh (Old Testament).
This lecture will cover topics such as comparative hermeneutical frameworks, debunking the “Islamic Dilemma,” the historical-critical method, the subtleties of ancient sacred poetry, and close readings of the biblical text in the original language (Hebrew).
This free workshop is a must for students of comparative religion and serious callers (du’at) to the Religion of Allah.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturday, February 7, 2026 | Conference Room | Free | Join us in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

– More Dr. Ali Ataie: https://mcceastbay.org/ali-ataie

Ustadh Dr. Ali Ataie is a leading scholar in comparative religion. He currently lectures at Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California. He has taught at several Western academic institutions.

Session One: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Zuhr Prayer/Brief lunch: 12:40 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Session Two: 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Coffee/Tea break (provided by MCC): 2:15 p.m. to 2:25 p.m.

Session Three: 2:25 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Asr Prayer: 4:15 p.m.

– More Dr. Ali Ataie: https://mcceastbay.org/ali-ataie

Ustadh Ali Ataie is a perennial student and researcher who has been involved in interfaith activities for over two decades. He holds a Master’s in Biblical Studies with a focus on the New Testament and biblical languages. He also holds a Ph.D. in cultural and historical studies in religion from the Graduate Theological Union. His doctoral work focused on Muslim hermeneutics of biblical texts, especially the Gospel of John. He lives in San Ramon, CA, with his wife, Roya, and three daughters. Learn more about him at https://zaytuna.edu/academics/faculty/ali-ataie
While the Old Testament doesn’t explicitly name Muhammad (PBUH), Islamic tradition identifies several passages as prophecies foretelling his coming, primarily in Deuteronomy 18:18-19, which speaks of a prophet “like you (Moses)” raised from among the brethren, and Deuteronomy 33:2 (Mount Paran/Ishmael). Other potential references include Song of Solomon 5:16 (interpreting “Muhammadim” as a name) and Isaiah 60:1-7 (describing light from the East). Christians generally interpret these prophecies differently, often relating them to Jesus or other figures, but Muslims see them as clear signs of Muhammad’s prophethood, highlighting similarities to Moses (e.g., family life, worldly leadership) that differ from Christian interpretations of Jesus.

Key Old Testament Passages Cited by Islamic Tradition:

Deuteronomy 18:18-19: “I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And whoever does not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.”

Islamic Interpretation: This prophet is like Moses (a lawgiver, married, had children, natural birth) but not Jesus, fulfilling the “from among your brothers” (referring to Ishmael’s descendants/Arabs).

Deuteronomy 33:2: “The Lord came from Sinai, and dawned from Seir upon them; he shone forth from Mount Paran, and he came from the midst of ten thousand holy ones”.

Islamic Interpretation: Sinai (Moses), Seir (Jesus), and Mount Paran (Mecca/Ishmael’s descendants).

Song of Solomon 5:16 (Hebrew): Contains the word “Muhammadim” (often translated as “altogether lovely” or “desirable”).

Islamic Interpretation: A direct, albeit transliterated, mention of the Prophet’s name.

Isaiah 60:1-7: Mentions the rising of light from the East, the gathering of flocks from Kedar (Ishmael’s son) and Nebaioth, and the glorification of God’s house (Kaaba in Mecca).

Christian Interpretations:

Most Christians interpret the Deuteronomy prophecy as referring to Jesus Christ, seeing him as the ultimate prophet “like Moses” (fulfilling the law, being a great teacher).
Song of Solomon 5:16 is generally regarded as poetic language describing a lover rather than a proper name.

In Summary:Muslim scholars use these passages to argue that the Old Testament prophesied Muhammad (PBUH), aligning his life and mission with these scriptural descriptions, while Christian theology typically links these prophecies to Jesus or other figures, viewing them as distinct from Muhammad.
