MCC East Bay

Encouraging Good Character Traits | Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh
2025-01-02 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-01-09 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-01-16 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-01-23 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-01-30 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-02-06 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-02-13 11:30 - 12:15, 2025-02-20 11:30 - 12:15 (America/Los_Angeles) and 1 more date | http://mcceastbay.org/forty
Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh facilitates a 45-minute live Zoom session for sisters on one of the chapters in the book The Forty of the Forty by Imam Yusuf al-Nabhani, which talks about enjoining good character, leading to spiritual purification and closeness to Allah.
11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. PST | Thursdays | 12 consecutive weeks from Dec. 19 to March 6, 2025 | No pre-registration needed | Join live each week at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom at mcceastbay.org/forty
Watch the prior sessions in this series: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/principle-series
More Ustadha Nihad:

– Ustadha Nihad’s “Principles of Religion” series: https://mcceastbay.org/principle-series
– Ustadha Nihad’s “Women Around the Messenger” series: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/women-series
– Ustadha Nihad’s “Forty Hadith Qudsi” series: https://mcceastbay.org/qudsi
– Ustadha’s Nihad’s “Pearls of Islam: The Wives of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)” series: https://mcceastbay.org/pearls-series
– Ustadha Nihad’s Surah al-Kahf series: https://mcceastbay.org/kahf
– Ustadha Nihad’s Juz Amma series: https://mcceastbay.org/quran-tafseer
– Hafidha Nihad’s Sahaba (Companions) Series Sessions: https://mcceastbay.org/companions-series
– Ust. Nohad’s Al-Nawawi Hadith Series: https://mcceastbay.org/nawawi
– More Ustadha Nihad: https://mcceastbay.org/nihad

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Women's Weekly Pilates Sessions | Seema Duhan
2025-01-04 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-01-11 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-01-18 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-01-25 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-01 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-08 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-15 08:30 - 10:00, 2025-02-22 08:30 - 10:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Sisters Only: Join us for a transformative body and mind experience every Saturday and Sunday morning with a Professional Yoga and Pilates Instructor. Stretch your muscles, shape your body, and relax your mind.
The recommended age is 20+ for Pilates Classes.
Sat. (8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.) & Sun. (8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) | Weekly with a break in Ramadan ‘25 | Conference Room | Max 15 attendees per session | $15/session or $100/monthly | Register at mcceastbay.org/pilates
Pilates Classes
Pilates is based on six principles: breath, concentration, center, control, precision, and flow. It is designed to transform muscles and bones while strengthening the core. Regular practice of Pilates not only reshapes the musculoskeletal system but also helps regulate emotions. This class is highly beneficial for individuals over the age of 20 years. Participants will learn how to control muscle movement and maintain poses while regulating their breathing. Regular Pilates practice increases muscle endurance against daily wear and tear and enhances flexibility. Starting age is 20 years. All props will be provided except the Yoga mat and foam roller.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a person back from attending any activity held in the community center. To request a financial waiver, please complete our financial waiver request: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/scholarship

About the Instructor:
Seema Duhan represented her university in athletics at the national level in India. A health enthusiast, she began learning yoga and Pilates a few years ago and, inspired by the transformation in her own body, decided to teach Pilates and stretching to fellow Muslim sisters to promote body awareness. Seema is currently pursuing her Pilates Instructor certification.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Weekly Zumba Classes for Women & Girls | Reham Sedky
2025-01-07 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-14 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-28 10:00 - 11:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Women & Girls Ages 12+: Join us for weekly Zumba – a fun, stress-relieving way to stay active, boost your energy, and connect with other sisters. Zumba offers incredible benefits, such as improved physical health, mental well-being, and the chance to make fitness an enjoyable part of your routine lifestyle.
This class is designed for women and girls aged 12 and up. It’s open to everyone, and no experience is needed.
Please note this class is not recommended for anyone with back or knee issues.
Starts Tuesday, Jan. 7 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28 | Conference Room (private space) | $15/session | Register at mcceastbay.org/zumba
Classes will be canceled if fewer than five people register.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a person back from attending any activity held in the community center. To request a financial waiver, please complete our financial waiver request: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/scholarship

About the Instructor:
My name is Reham Sedky, and I’m excited to introduce myself as a certified Zumba instructor from the Mountain House Muslim community. Because I love my community, I wanted to bring something positive to encourage women to focus on their health and well-being. I noticed many sisters cannot participate in gyms or sports due to privacy concerns or lack of time. This inspired me to become a professional Zumba instructor to offer something new and beneficial. Alhamdulilah, through our Muslim community, I was able to provide this class in a private and comfortable environment that meets our needs.
Please join me, and let’s move, laugh, and grow stronger together, Insha’Allah!
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Dr. Rania Awaad’s Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2025-01-10 19:00 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Ustadha Dr. Rania Awaad holds a weekly women’s gathering on Friday evenings to discuss navigating contemporary issues. This program runs in parallel to the Friday night girl’s halaqa.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Every Friday from September 20, 2024, to February 21, 2025, | MCC Conference Room | Free; no registration or RSVP required to attend in person | To join virtually, register at https://mcceastbay.org/zoom

– More Dr. Rania: https://mcceastbay.org/rania
– Watch past Dr. Rania’s Friday Evening Halaqa recordings: https://mcceastbay.org/womens-halaqa
– Join Dr. Rania’s WhatsUp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HlHmFFnGbwvCvLl6uGD1C4
– The Rahmah Foundation’s Holiday Calendar: https://mcceastbay.org/rahmah-calendar

The Fall session runs from Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, to May 23, 2025, with no halaqas on Friday, November 29, December 27, January 3, March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4), and we restart from April 11, 2025 to May 23, 2025. See calendar.

Free weekly babysitting is provided in Room 23. Facility map: https://mcceastbay.org/facility-map

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

This halaqa is hosted parallel to our girls’ program in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation.

Shaykh Dr. Rania Awaad, M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University’s Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. In the community, she serves as the President and Co-Founder of Maristan, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. Before studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaaid Learn more

Every Friday evening, the MCC bustles with activity. MCC hosts four halaqas to increase God-consciousness for youth, women, and men.

Join Dr. Rania Awaad‘s women’s gathering on navigating contemporary issues from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This wide-ranging Muslimah halaqa is in the MCC Conference Room, and the first hour is live-streamed here (watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/halaqa). This halaqa is organized in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation. Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Dr. Rania Awaad’s Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2025-01-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-01-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-01-31 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-07 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-14 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-21 19:00 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
*Halaqa is virtual only during the summer session. We will resume in-person classes at MCC after Labor Day in September 2025. Please join the Rahmah Foundation WhatsApp group for future updates.*
Ustadha Dr. Rania Awaad holds a weekly women’s gathering on Friday evenings to discuss navigating contemporary issues. This program runs in parallel to the Friday night girl’s halaqa.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Every Friday from September 20, 2024, to February 21, 2025 | MCC Conference Room | Free; no registration or RSVP required to attend in person | To join virtually, register at https://mcceastbay.org/zoom

– More Dr. Rania: https://mcceastbay.org/rania
– Watch past Dr. Rania’s Friday Evening Halaqa recordings: https://mcceastbay.org/womens-halaqa
– Join Dr. Rania’s WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/EBXwXGDqE8D5IZ7bLUPq5D
– The Rahmah Foundation’s Holiday Calendar: https://mcceastbay.org/rahmah-calendar

The Fall session runs from Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, to May 23, 2025, with no halaqas on Friday, November 29, December 27, March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4), and we restart from April 11, 2025 to May 23, 2025. See calendar.

Free weekly babysitting is provided in Room 23. Facility map: https://mcceastbay.org/facility-map

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

This halaqa is hosted parallel to our girls’ program in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation.

Ustadha Rania Awaad was raised in the U.S. and began her formal study of the traditional Islamic sciences when her parents permitted her to travel to Damascus, Syria, at 14. Her desire to continue studying the Deen resulted in multiple trips back to Damascus, interspersed between her high school, college, and medical studies. She was honored to receive Ijazah (authorization to teach) several branches of the Shari’ah sciences at the hands of many renowned scholars, including many female scholars. She has received Ijazah to teach Tajwid in the Hafs and Warsh recitations from the late eminent Syrian scholar Shaykh Abu Hassan al-Kurdi. In addition to completing several advanced texts of the Shafi’i madhhab, she is licensed to teach texts of Maliki fiqh, Adab, and Ihsan. Currently, Ustadha Rania teaches online and local classes for The Rahmah Foundation, Rabata. She is on the faculty of Zaytuna College, where she teaches courses in Shafi’i fiqh and women’s issues in fiqh and has helped develop and co-direct the Tajweed and Hifz program.

Ustadha Rania is also a medical doctor with a specialty in Psychiatry. She completed her Psychiatric residency and fellowship training at Stanford University, where she is currently on the faculty as a Clinical Instructor in the Stanford Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department. Her medical interests include addressing mental health care concerns in the Muslim community- particularly that of Muslim women and girls. She has been awarded grants from the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) to research this topic and has presented her findings at several medical conferences. Other ongoing endeavors include compiling manuscripts addressing female-related mental health and medical issues from a fiqh-oriented perspective. She is the Director of the Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization that teaches traditional Islamic knowledge to Muslim women and girls. In this capacity, she also heads the Murbbiyah Mentoring Program, which trains young women to teach and mentor Muslim girls and teens. Ustadha Rania is both a wife and a mother; she has been counseling and teaching women classes on Tajwid, Shafi’i Fiqh, Ihsan, marriage, and raising children since 1999.

Learn more about Dr. Rania and her work at http://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/research/MuslimMHLab.html

Every Friday evening, the MCC bustles with activity. MCC hosts four halaqas to increase God-consciousness for youth, women, and men.

Join Dr. Rania Awaad‘s women’s gathering on navigating contemporary issues from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This wide-ranging Muslimah halaqa is in the MCC Conference Room, and the first hour is live-streamed here (watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/halaqa). This halaqa is organized in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Navigating Perimenopause & Menopause: A Faith-Inspired Women’s Workshop | Dr. Sondos Al Sad
2025-02-01 10:00 - 14:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Women Ages 35+: Navigate the physical, emotional, and spiritual transitions of perimenopause and menopause with practical strategies for symptom management, well-being, and faith-based empowerment.

This is a safe and supportive space to explore tools rooted in science and spirituality to embrace this natural life stage with confidence and grace.
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 1 | MCC Conference Room | Free, but Kindly RSVP at mcceastbay.org/life
This event will not be live-streamed or recorded. Zuhr and lunch break from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
MCC also will have two events later in the day:

3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Mental Health & Ramadan: Finding Healing Through the Qur’an | Dr. Rania Awaad
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Anchored by the Qur’an (Pre-Ramadan Miftaah Conference)

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
About the speaker
Sondos Al Sad is a Family and Community Medicine expert. Dr. Al Sad completed her medical schooling in Jordan and finished her Family Medicine Residency Program and a Master’s in Public Health and Epidemiology at the University of Kentucky. She is a nationally certified menopause practitioner from the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), equipping her with the most current and up-to-date clinical service for women transitioning to menopause. She is bilingual and speaks both English and Arabic fluently.
Her expertise includes women’s health, immigrant health, cognitive behavioral therapy for non-psychotic mental illnesses, public health, community medicine, and health equity. Dr. Al Sad believes in a holistic clinical approach, so she actively listens to patients’ concerns regarding their presentations and passionately seeks answers for them. Dr. Al Sad’s current research interests include women’s health, Muslim health research, patient-centered outcomes, and cost-effective interventions. She has presented her research nationally at academic and community conferences.
She is a leading member of many not-for-profit organizations that aim to serve community engagement, empowerment, and wellness.
Learn more about Dr. Sondos at https://drempath.net

Mental Health & Ramadan: Finding Healing Through the Qur’an | Dr. Rania Awaad
2025-02-01 15:30 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
This Ramadan, explore Quranic themes emphasizing stories of resilience, faith, and the divine wisdom of trials. This presentation will focus on protecting and managing our mental health during Ramadan.
Dr. Rania recalls a story of Prophet Musa and offers some teachings from Al-Ghazali that we can practice during this blessed month.
3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time | MCC Conference Room | Saturday, Feb. 1 | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Free; no registration needed. This program precedes the Miftaah program at 5 p.m.
MCC also will have two events that day:

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Navigating Perimenopause & Menopause: A Faith-Inspired Women’s Workshop | Dr. Sondos Al Sad
5 p.m. to 10 p.m. | Anchored by the Qur’an (Pre-Ramadan Miftaah Conference)

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Shaykah Dr. Rania Awaad M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University’s Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. In the community, she serves as the President and Co-Founder of Maristan, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. Before studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaaid Learn more.
