MCC East Bay

Women’s Seerah Bookclub (in-person & virtual) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2024-09-23 11:00 - 12:30, 2024-09-30 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
Join our weekly sisters’ in-person & virtual Seerah book club, where we have an active discussion, take away lessons for our daily lives, and inshaAllah fall in love with the Prophet ﷺ. We are reading from “The Prophetic Narrative” by Samira al-Zayid and will begin reading Volume 2.

Every Monday in-person & virtual | 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | MCC Conference Room | Women only | RSVP for the live registration link at https://mcceastbay.org/bookclub. RSVP is needed to join us virtually.

Event Details:

The in-person & virtual discussion takes place every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a break in Ramadan ’24.

Please register online to receive the link to the Whatsapp thread where all communication and updates will be made. In this bookclub, we will be starting volume 2 of “The Prophetic Narrative” by Samira al-Zayid.

Book Purchase:

If you wish to follow along with the book, please purchase the book. The book can be purchased here:

– https://daybreak.rabata.org/products/soft-cover-a-compendium-of-the-sources-on-the-prophetic-narrative

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

About the Book

Internationally acclaimed as “the most authoritative resource” on the Sīra, this two-volume translation textbook is revolutionary in bringing Prophet Muhammad ﷺ’s life to life for everyone who ventures upon it.

This multiple award-winning, comprehensive compilation of narrations and details of the life of Prophet Muhammad (S) has never before been available in English until now! Internationally acclaimed as “the most authoritative resource” on the Sīra, this two-volume translation textbook is revolutionary in bringing his (S) life to life for everyone who ventures upon it. The original volumes have won the approval and praise of numerous scholars. It is finally available as a treasured text for personal or educational development.

Author: Samira al-Zayid

Translators: Susan Imady, Tamara Gray, & Randa Mardini

Binding: Softcover

Pages: Vol 1, 570; Vol 2, 558

Publisher: Daybreak Press

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

Purification of the Heart: A Call for Inner Healing | Sidi Shahryar Abbasi
2024-09-25 19:00 - 20:00, 2024-10-02 19:00 - 20:00
Wednesdays, Starts May 1 | 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Walnut Creek Islamic Center | Join in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live

Join Sidi Shahryar Abbasi every Wednesday at 7 p.m. virtually to dive into the popular text Purification of the Heart by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, where we will have an opportunity to go over the following:

Delve into the heart’s role in personal governance

Explore traditional Tazkiya practices for spiritual purification

Identify common spiritual diseases and learn specific remedies

Cultivate tranquility, wisdom, and patience, mirroring Prophetic (saw) qualities

Develop emotional resilience, enhance relationships, and navigate challenges with wisdom aligning with the Sunnah

We will also cover Imam Al-Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum Al-Din (The Revival of the Religious Sciences), books 20-22.

Hosted at Walnut Creek Islamic Center. Streamed on MCC media channels. Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/healing

– More Sidi Shahryar: https://mcceastbay.org/shahryar– Sidi Shahryar’s “The Soul’s Journey” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/journey– Sidi Shahryar’s “Real Talk Series”: https://mcceastbay.org/real-talk– Sidi Shahryar’s “Traits of the Righteous” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/hallmark– Sidi Shahryar’s “Controlling Your Desires” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/desires– Sidi Shahryar’s “Soul’s Journey Series: https://mcceastbay.org/journey

Shahryar graduated from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and was the External Affairs Vice President of UC Berkeley’s student government. He is an experienced speaker, mentor, and coach. Send him questions at ask.abu.taha@gmail.com and learn more about him at https://www.tiktok.com/@islamic_spirituality. Learn more about him at The Success Company: https://www.successcompany.co/about-us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_miz9RAhI8c&list=PL9uyRQTMUugnOmH0oww_n0yUo6hEjEMUL&index=1

Mommy and Me September '24 Session | MCC's Mommy & Me Program
2024-09-26 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-10-03 10:00 - 11:00
In this five-week fall session, our toddlers and pre-schoolers (ages 1-5) will develop love for Islam, Allah (swt), and RasulAllah (saw) through book reading, sing-alongs, Parachute Time, activities, and more!
Thursdays, 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, & 11/14 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Conference Room | $70 for five sessions, $135 for 10 sessions or $20 per session | Register at mcceastbay.org/happyhearts
Please note that there will be no class on 10/10.
These Mommy & Me sessions are designed for girls and boys ages one to four who are accompanied by a female guardian. Moms, grandmothers, and so on are welcome. This is also a great opportunity to connect with other moms and caretakers in the MCC community.
Our Mommy and Me sessions begin with dua and a salaam/greeting song and end with the Fi-Amanillah song and kid-favorite parachute time.
Questions? Happy Hearts Playgroup Facilitator Sr. Khadija at mommyandme@mcceastbay.org
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

Principles of Religion: Manners III | Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh
2024-09-26 12:30 - 13:15, 2024-10-03 12:30 - 13:15
Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh facilitates a 45-minute live Zoom session for sisters on the principles of religion, such as acts of worshipping Allah (swt), the good character of a Muslim, and more. These talks will be recorded and made publicly available on MCC’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Ustadha Nihad is using the book, “The Forty in the Fundamentals of Religion” by Al-Ghazali. This is part three of the “Principles of Religion” series, which will focus on praiseworthy characteristics.
12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. PST | Thursdays | 12 consecutive weeks from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31, 2024 | No pre-registration needed | Join live each week at 12:30 p.m. on Zoom at mcceastbay.org/principles

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

MECC Bay Youth Table @ MCC Jumu’ahs
2024-09-27 13:30 - 16:00
Youths from Middle Eastern Country Care will sell Middle Eastern-inspired merch and donate all their profits to Sudan and Palestine.

Third Pillar Islamic Charity Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-09-27 13:30 - 16:00
Third Pillar USA is a charity organization based in the United States, with a focus on alleviating the pressures of poverty in the local community. The organization is comprised of passionate individuals from across the Bay Area, working in various professions with a shared commitment. They operate under the guidance of respected scholars in Toronto to ensure that their work aligns with the principles of Islam. We believe that education is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against poverty, and we strive to provide accessible education to those in need. Our initiatives include building schools, providing scholarships, and offering vocational training programs.
On this Friday, they are collecting funds for Gaza refugees in Egypt. Please visit their table for more information.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2024-09-27 13:30 - 16:00
For MCC’s four Jumu’ah services on Friday, Sep. 27, 2024:

*Heavy parking congestion. Kindly avoid this service 🙂 *

Ustadh Feraidoon Mojadedi delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.

– Hafiz Afraz Khan delivers this sermon at Rosewood Conference Center.

2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.

– Ustadh Ibrahim Qureshi delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.

– Ustadh Ibrahim Qureshi delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. @ MCC to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible, or attend the off-site MCC Jumu’ah service each week at Rosewood Commons, 4400 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton.Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. Please come to the second or fourth Jumuah to ease up parking congestion or (better yet) attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer at 1:40 p.m. at Rosewood Conference Center: https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live

– More Ustadh Feraidoon: http://mcceastbay.org/feraidoon
– More Sidi Afraz: http://mcceastbay.org/afraz
– More Ustadh Ibrahim: https://mcceastbay.org/ibrahim

For parents attending with young children indoors at the main MCC facility, we offer private mothers’ and fathers’ rooms with an audio and visual connection to the Prayer Hall. Parents can watch the sermon and pray while working with other parents and young children. The mothers’ and fathers’ prayer room is just past the Banquet Hall doors into the school area.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Monthly Qur'an for Converts | Sidi Afraz Khan
2024-09-27 18:00 - 19:00
For Our New Muslims! Join us this Friday at MCC with Sidi Afraz Khan to learn about Surah Al-Fatiha, the seven most recited verses of the Qur’an.
This interactive session focuses on diving deep into the meaning of the surah, with room for flexibility based on the needs of each student.
Whether you’re seeking insight into the message of the surah or looking to strengthen your connection with it, this session will adapt to help you grow.

Friday, Sep. 27 | 6 p.m. to Maghrib (7 p.m.) | MCC Banquet Hall | RSVP required; mcceastbay.org/marhaba-fatiha

Questions? marhaba@mcceastbay.org
Afraz Khan is a UC Berkeley MBA graduate and works as a social impact consultant. He completed his BA from New York University in 2017. He most recently worked at the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) in their Racial Justice Program, building cases to fight discrimination in law enforcement, housing, and education.
After eight years of study, Afraz completed his memorization of the Qur’an and conducted tajweed classes for the local community. Afraz expanded his studies by attending Zaytuna College’s Summer Quranic Arabic Intensive, completing an 8-week classical Arabic course through Studio Arabiya, and taking classes in modern standard Arabic at NYU. In 2017, he completed a summer course through the American Learning Institute for Muslims (ALIM) and is currently a seminary student at The Majlis in SoCal in their Community Servants Program. Afraz has also worked part-time as a Religious Life Adviser at Columbia University, where he collaborated with university staff to build out programming and resources for the Muslim community.
Afraz has delivered Khutbahs to Berkeley Masjid, Lighthouse Mosque, Evergreen Islamic Center, San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, MCC East Bay, and others. He has also served as the Imam for Taraweeh at Berkeley Masjid and conducted nightly talks on the lessons in each Qur’an section.

Dr. Rania Awaad’s Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2024-09-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-10-04 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, 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

Friday Night Boys High School Halaqa | Sidi Quran Hodge
2024-09-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2024-10-04 19:00 - 21:00
Join MCC Youth Activities Facilitator Sidi Quran Hodge for weekly Friday evening basketball & halaqa sessions for teen high school boys from 9th through 12th grade.
These sessions aim to craft our next generation of confident, faithful Muslim men. These halaqas are for only high school boys only—no younger boys. The sessions are capped at 30 teens. Once limited spots are full, please join the waitlist.
Pizza is included each week. The first hour is physical activities in the gym (basketball, flag football, or soccer), and the latter hour is a teen halaqa with Sidi Quran.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Fridays | Sep. 20, 2024 to May 23, 2025 (with a break in Ramadan ‘25) | $400/person | Register at mcceastbay.org/boys
The MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a family in the East Bay from benefiting from any offering at the MCC facility. To request a financial waiver, please complete the application at mcceastbay.org/scholarship
Location of Friday evening sessions for high school boys in ‘24 and ‘25:

– September 20, 2024, at MCC East Bay
– September 27, 2024, at MCC East Bay
– October 4, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– October 11, 202, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– October 18, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– October 25, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– November 1, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– November 8, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– November 15, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– November 22, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– November 29, 2024 (no session)
– December 6, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– December 13, 2024, at Fairlands Elementary School in Pleasanton
– December 20, 2024, at Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– December 27, 2024 (no session)
– January 3, 2025, at MCC East Bay
– January 10, 2025, location TBA
– January 17, 2025, location TBA
– January 24, 2025, location TBA
– January 31, 2025, Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– February 7, 2025, Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– February 14, 2025, Donlon Elementary in Pleasanton
– February 21, 2025, location TBA (last session before Ramadan 2025)
– February 28, 2025 (no session – join Moonsighting in MCC parking lot)
– March 7, 2025 (no session)
– March 14, 2025 (no session)
– March 21, 2025 (no session)
– March 28, 2025 (no session)
– April 4, 2025, at Thomas Hart Middle School
– April 11, 2025, location Amador Valley High School
– April 18, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School
– April 25, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School
– May 2, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School
– May 9, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School
– May 16, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School
– May 23, 2025, location Thomas Hart Middle School

About Sidi Quran
Qur’an Hodge is a Bay Area native. He began his Islamic education in 2019, studying Arabic at the Al Maqasid Seminary in Pennsylvania. Sidi Quran continued to Dar Al Mustafa, a Yemeni Islamic university in Tarim, Hadhramaut. At this Islamic seminary founded by Habib Umar bin Hafiz, Sidi Qur’an studied Ibtidaiyya, Hadith, Aqida, Seerah, Nahw, Quran Hifzdh, Kitaba, and Tafseer in classical Arabic.
Sidi Quran has completed certificates in Taleef Collective’s Refining the Core and Zaytuna College’s Permaculture Program. He is passionate about creatively working on community issues, particularly the challenges Muslim youth face. He lives with his wife and child in Castro Valley.

– More Quran Hodge: https://mcceastbay.org/quran-hodge

Women's Weekly Pilates Sessions | Seema Duhan
2024-09-28 08:30 - 10:00, 2024-09-29 08:00 - 09:30, 2024-10-05 08:30 - 10:00
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

Sisters Swap and Sip | Marhaba Convert Care Team
2024-09-28 11:00 - 13:00
For Sisters! Enjoy chai and snacks this Saturday, connect with sisters, and bring home some fresh clothing items. This is a great opportunity for new Muslim sisters to gain some modest pieces.

Saturday, Sep. 28 | 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Rooms 23/24 | Free; RSVP at mcceastbay.org/marhaba-swap

11 am – Clothing drop off
11:25 am – Cut-off time for donations
11:30 am – First pick for donors
11:45 am – Open pick for all attendees

Please note: If you are not donating, please come at 11:45 am.

Questions? marhaba@mcceastbay.org

Youth's Taco Social Brunch @ MCC
2024-09-28 11:30 - 13:30
For High Schoolers (Grades 9-12): Join us to savor tasty tacos and socialize with fellow high school students. This is a great opportunity to connect and meet fellow peers in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. We will have team-building activities followed by Dhur prayer.
This youth event for boys and girls teens is capped at 50 youth.
Saturday, Sep. 28 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (Dhur) | MCC Banquet Hall & Parking Lot | Grades 9-12 | $15/person | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/youth-social
Space is Limited! Sign up today!
The MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a family in the East Bay from benefiting from any offering at the MCC facility. To request a financial waiver, please complete the application at mcceastbay.org/scholarship
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Body Washing & Shrouding Workshop
2024-09-28 13:30 - 15:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
We are encouraged by our faith to wash & shroud the body of our loved one. Get prepared for this challenging, necessary task in this free, interactive workshop for brothers & sisters ages 18+.
1:30 p.m. (after Zuhr) to 3:30 p.m. | Saturday, September 28 | MCC Conference Room (women) & MCC Prayer Hall (men) | Free; no registration required
Rehana Markar facilitates the sister’s workshop. Abdur Rehman facilitates the men’s workshop. Both are lead volunteers for body washing in the East Bay.
After the parallel workshops, you can sign up to prepare bodies for burial at the Islamic Society of East Bay’s morgue. These parallel and separate men’s and women’s workshops are conducted by experienced mortuary volunteers. This is an excellent opportunity for couples. This workshop’s content and washing simulation are inappropriate for children and adults who are faint of heart.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

– MCC’s Islamic End of Life Talks Playlist: https://mcceastbay.org/end-of-life
– Islamic burial services in the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay: https://mcceastbay.org/funeral

“He who washes a dead body and conceals what he notices of physical defects, he will be forgiven forty times.” [Al-Hakim]

Topics covered in this workshop include :

– What to do when death occurs?
– Forms required by the State of California
– Order of preference for who is preferred to perform the ghusl on the deceased
– What we should do before we start the ghusl (body washing)?
– Preparing the kafan (shroud) and ghusl items (soap, warm water, camphor (powdered dry sidr leaves), cardboard box, etc.
– Preparing and cutting the kafan
– Preparing the body for washing and process of washing the body
– Applying the shroud on the washed body
– What to do after shrouding the body?

We will describe how to perform the Islamic ceremonial process of washing and shrouding a deceased person (mayit) before Janaza and burial. al-Mayyit (Arabic: الميت) is the term to refer to the deceased in Islam. There are prescribed burial rites to be given upon the death of a Muslim, including the salat al-mayyit, or “prayer of the dead.”

Abdur Rehman is a prolific volunteer who has volunteered to wash and shroud Muslims in the East Bay for more than a decade. A convert to Islam from Hinduism, he brings a unique understanding of the relationship to death and burial in both faith traditions.

At mosques, Br. Abdul Rahman demonstrates practical ghusl and shrouding in workshops and he encourages area Muslims to learn how to wash their loved ones. He volunteers with the Fremont-based Islamic Society of East Bay’s mortuary. The masjid is also known as the Lowry masjid. Muslim funerals in the East Bay are community affairs, and non-family members partake in several aspects of funerals, from jānazah prayers to burials. Community members are essential in conducting ghusl, a body-washing ritual on the deceased. In the ghusl ritual, the entire dead body is washed, which requires the helping hands of multiple people to lift and move the body around for washing. Muslim families often need outside assistance from the community to wash their deceased because they don’t have family members trained to perform it or be too emotional to perform it themselves. In such instances, volunteers step up to help families wash their dead.
How Volunteers Become Involved
Many might be surprised to learn that anyone would volunteer to wash the dead body of a stranger.

Ethics of Washing
Washing the body of the dead requires an ethical approach. It is an act that should be carried out in a dignified and respectful manner and it is important that we avoid causing harm to the body. In addition to not harming the body, the ethical approach includes avoiding idle talk around the body, making prayers for the dead individual, and making sure that all the steps of the ghusl are done properly. Under the pressure to finish washing the body in time for the burial.
Lessons from Volunteering (“He is down today, I am tomorrow.”)
The experience from washing during funerals does not simply remain in the wash facilities, but rather the volunteers carry lessons from the experience into their lives. Volunteers say that dealing with death has instilled them with humility. In remembering death while washing, it reminds us of the meaning in life: family, community, living a righteous life, and above all, worshiping her Creator.
Resources

MCC’s Islamic End of Life Talks Playlist
Islamic Will & Trust Templates: Version 1, Version 2, Version 3, Version 4
A Guide for the Muslim Funeral
Practical Ghusl and Shrouding
Islamic Estate Planning (video presentation)
The Islamic Perspective on End-of-Life Care (video presentation)
The Soul’s Journey After Death | Shaykh Alaeddin El Bakri
Resources from TWO GODS Documentary Film
Five Wishes: Advanced Planning Guide
FAQ – Islamic Wills & Trusts
Noor Islamic & Cultural Community Center (NICCC) in Concord – Islamic Mortuary

Washing & Shrouding The Deceased Muslim
When a Muslim dies, it is the responsibility of his family or other Muslims to wash him according to the Islamic rites of washing the deceased. Two or three persons may perform the washing. The person(s) who may wash the deceased should:

– Be a trustworthy, and honest adult Muslim(s).
– Know the Islamic way of washing the dead and be able to carry out the washing.
– Not make any comment on the body of the deceased.

Note

– If the deceased is a male, then ONLY males should wash him.
– If the deceased is a female, then ONLY females should wash her.
– For a married person, the spouse may perform the washing.
– For a child, either males or females may wash.

Place of washing

– The deceased’s body should be washed in a clean, secluded, and private place where clean water and soap are available. Gloves or pieces of cloth are needed. – The body of the deceased should be washed with water and, if available, lotus leaves, or camphor (To be used in the final wash). – The washing should be done three or five, or any more odd number of times if necessary.

Steps of washing

– The body of the deceased should be placed on a table or alike, the deceased’s clothes should be removed, and the body should be covered with a sheet of cloth.
– The head and the upper body should be raised slightly to insure the washing water with exudations from the body flows down and does not run back to the body.
– The deceased’s Aura (private parts) should be covered with a piece of cloth. The Aura of a male is from the belly button to the knee in the presence of males, for the female is the same in the presence of females.
– The washer should start washing by saying:” Bismil – lah “,” In the name of Allah “.
– The washer winds a piece of cloth around his hand, and with this he cleans away any impurities from the body using water. Then he should dispose of this piece.
– The washer should take another piece of cloth around his hand, press lightly the stomach of the deceased so as so to expel, if possible, any remnants from it, and then wash the body of all impurities using water. Then he should dispose this piece of cloth.
– The washer should take another piece of cloth around his hand (may use gloves), and wash the covered private parts, then dispose of this piece of cloth.
– The washer should perform Wudu (ablution) on the deceased without inserting the water in the nose and in the mouth.
– The washer should clean the body with water and soap, if available, starting from the head (hair, face and beard {men}), then the upper right side of the body then the left side, after that the lower right side then the lower left.
– In the case of a female, her hair should be loosened, washed, combed, and be braided in three braids, and placed behind her back. The washing should be done three times, or five times, or seven times, as needed, providing that after washing the head, wash the right side before the left, and the upper parts before the lower ones.
– In the last wash, the washer may use camphor, or some perfume with the water.
– After that the body should be dried with clean towel.
– Then the body should be totally covered with a white sheet.
– You now get ready to start the shrouding.

Special Note: In case the deceased is a female in her menstrual period or have child birth bleeding, padding should be used to prevent blood from leaving the body. Note:

– It is recommended that those who performed the washing should take a bath .
– It is recommended that those who performed the washing should make Wudu.
– All of this is based on authentic Hadith that Um Atiyah narrated that: ” When the daughter of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) died, he instructed us:‘ Wash her three times, or more than that if you feel it is necessary, with water and sidr(good smelling leaves), and then after the last wash apply some camphor to the body , then loosen her hair, wash it, comb it, and make it in three braids laid behind her back ” (Bukhari & Muslim).

Note:

– There is no Islamic teaching of reading the Quran during the Ghusul.

– There is no Islamic teaching of making special dthiker (Certain words to remember Allah) during the Ghusul. Shrouding The Deceased Muslim – Shrouding should start Just after washing the body of the deceased. It is recommended to use white sheets from inexpensive material. Extravagance is not recommended in the Kafan (Shroud). Aisha relates that: ” When the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) died, he was shrouded in three white sheets from Yemen” (Bukhari & Muslim). The shroud (kafan) of a male: The Kafan of a male should consist of three white winding sheets about{7 x 7 feet}, clean and large enough to conceal the whole body, after having been perfumed with incense. Use 4 tie ropes, each 7 feet long. The material of the sheet should not be silk, nor should any gold be used. Steps of shrouding

– The winding sheets should be spread out one on the top of the other.
– The deceased, covered with a sheet, is lifted and laid on his back on the winding sheets.
– Some scent or perfume may be put on those parts of the body upon which one rests during prostration, that is the forehead, nose, hands, knees, and feet.
– If it is possible the deceased’s left hand should be placed on his chest, then put his right hand on the left hand like the way in the Salat (Prayer).
– The edge of the top sheet is folded over the deceased right side, then the other edge over his left side. Then the second sheet should be folded the same way. The third and the largest sheet should be treated the same way.
– These sheets should be fastened with a piece of cloth {Tie ropes}, one above the head, another under the feet, and two around the body.

Women's Weekly Pilates Sessions | Seema Duhan
2024-09-29 08:00 - 09:30
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
Special Labor Day Weekend class on Monday, Sept. 2 (8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.)
No class on Sept. 14 & 15.
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

Refugee Foster Care Information Session
2024-10-03 18:30 - 19:30
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County’s Refugee Foster Care seeks Bay Area families willing to welcome refugee youth into their homes.
Refugee Foster Care supports unaccompanied refugee minors fleeing persecution and violence. They are seeking nurturing families to welcome refugee youth into their homes.
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 3. | To join the interactive Zoom information session, RSVP at mcceastbay.org/foster-care
Co-sponsored by Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County & MCC East Bay
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County’s Refugee Foster Care is a long-term foster care agency that brings youth from all over the world directly from refugee camps or urban settings and those youth that flee from Central America and are put in a shelter in the United States.
The Refugee Foster Care is a federally funded program, and Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County has a great staff team to support the families.
Questions? Claire Collins, ccollins@catholiccharitiesscc.org or (408) 325-5107

– Catholic Charities Poster
– Family Mentor Program
– Money Matters Age

NISA Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-10-04 13:30 - 16:00
NISA (North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused), established in 2002, was founded to alleviate challenges related to abuse and domestic violence within the Muslim community. Their primary goal is to reduce incidents of domestic violence and achieve domestic harmony among families through collaborative efforts with the community and other established organizations. Visit their table this Friday to learn more about their efforts and to support them.
They also have an upcoming fundraiser on Sunday, October 13, at Chandni Restaurant in Newark. Learn more here.

Asian Women Shelter Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-10-04 13:30 - 16:00
Arab Women Services, a branch of Asian Women Services, provides support services to Arab Speakers who are survivors of Domestic Violence. Visit their table this Friday to learn more about how you can support their efforts.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2024-10-04 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For MCC’s four Jumu’ah services on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024:

*Heavy parking congestion. Please, kindly avoid this service 🙂 *

Sidi Shahryar Abbasi delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.

– Ustadh Omar Naisan delivers this sermon at Rosewood Conference Center.

2:30 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.

– Ustadh Mohammed Abdul Baseer delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.

– Sidi Shaan Mukhtar delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. @ MCC to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible, or attend the off-site MCC Jumu’ah service each week at Rosewood Commons, 4400 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton.Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. Please come to the second or fourth Jumuah to ease up parking congestion or (better yet) attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer at 1:40 p.m. at Rosewood Conference Center: https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live

– More Sidi Shahryar: http://mcceastbay.org/shahryar
– More Ustadh Omar: http://mcceastbay.org/omar
– More Ustadh Abdul Baseer: http://mcceastbay.org/mohammed
– More Sidi Shaan: http://mcceastbay.org/shaan

For parents attending with young children indoors at the main MCC facility, we offer private mothers’ and fathers’ rooms with an audio and visual connection to the Prayer Hall. Parents can watch the sermon and pray while working with other parents and young children. The mothers’ and fathers’ prayer room is just past the Banquet Hall doors into the school area.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Domestic Violence in the American Muslim Community (+Community Dinner) | Imam Tahir Anwar
2024-10-04 19:00 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
This month, and always, we affirm that we will break the silence and empower women in the Muslim community so they are not forced to stay in marriages in which they are abused.
Learn about the resources available to help our loved ones and how we can support our local organizations addressing this issue.
All MCC Khutbahs on Friday, October 4, are also dedicated to this unspoken topic of forbidding domestic oppression.
Friday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Join us in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live
Sponsored by San Ramon Valley Islamic Center, The Rahmah Foundation, North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA) & MCC East Bay
MCC proudly works with the North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused (NISA), which shelters women fleeing abuse and provides skills and resources to become self-sufficient. NISA staff and volunteers will be on hand during this event.
SRVIC has generously offered to sponsor a post-program dinner for up to 200 guests. The program begins promptly at 7:15 p.m. Please arrive between 6:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. to receive dinner tickets. Dinner will be served after the Isha prayers at 8:45 p.m.
Family Night Schedule

6:52 pm: Maghrib congregational prayer
7:15 pm: Presentation by Sumera Siddiqui, NISA
7:30 pm: Talk by a NISA Advocate, Case Manager
7:45 pm: Take A Stand Against Domestic Violence | Imam Tahir Anwar
8:15 to 8:45 pm: Q&A panel
8:45 pm: Isha congregational prayer
9 p.m.: Dinner served

– More Imam Tahir: https://mcceastbay.org/tahir
– Learn more about the NISA shelter: https://asknisa.org
– More domestic violence talks at MCC: http://mcceastbay.org/nisa
– More topics addressing community & social justice issues: http://mcceastbay.org/community
It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and let’s remember that Islam enjoins kindness and mercy and forbids oppression.
Domestic violence happens everywhere all the time and affects everyone. Women are the principal victims. Help us bring awareness.
During this Family Night and the four MCC Jumu’ah services, MCC will invite various local Bay Area DV organizations to have a table alongside NISA. Our Khutbahs will also focus on raising awareness of domestic violence.
https://youtu.be/lilKZWT5Y68

Three to four million women are beaten annually, and every 15 seconds, a woman is abused in her home. Nationally, domestic violence has become the number one cause of death among women.
One reaction from our community is, “That’s a tragedy that doesn’t affect Muslim families.” But it does. While research on the prevalence of family violence among Muslims is just beginning, Imams, community leaders, and social workers across North America confirm that Muslim women, children, and men are being affected by this devastating social problem.
Physical violence can lead to broken bones, head injury, vision loss, and even death. Among victims, emotional abuse leads to a broken spirit and feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and oppression.
Domestic abuse knows no boundaries. It occurs among well-known and little-known community members, the rich, the poor, the well-educated and uneducated, foreign-born and American-born, and across all cultures, races, and religions.
Violence against women is not an Islamic tradition. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed us, “I command you to be kind to women.” He said also, “The best of you is the best to his family (wife). The Quran urges husbands to be kind and considerate to their wives. “Under no circumstances does the Quran encourage, allow, or condone family violence or physical abuse. Motherhood has the highest status in Islam.
Marriage preparation education and premarital counseling can help future spouses learn skills that will assist them in developing a healthy, violence-free family life.
This problem will not be eliminated unless we act. We must recognize the signs of spousal abuse and act to prevent it and work towards its elimination. We must encourage couples to seek spiritual and professional help.
Insha-Allah (God willing), we must become partners against domestic violence. Spread the word and Stop the Hurt.
We end with a Muslim prayer for peace:
O Allah, You are As-Salaam – peace — and from You is all peace, blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor.’
