Weekly Women’s Seerah Bookclub
2022-11-01 18:30 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join our weekly sisters’ virtual only 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. This fall, we are reading “The Prophetic Narrative” by Samira al-Zayid.
RSVP for the live registration link below at https://mcceastbay.org/bookclub. RSVP is needed to join us virtually.
**Sessions changed to online only for the remaining classes.
Event Details:
The discussion takes place every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and in Fall ’22 runs from Tuesday, August 23 to December 20, 2022. The sessions are now only virtual sessions (no in-person component).
Please register online to receive the link to the Whatsapp thread where all communication and updates will be made.
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

The Forty Hadith: Compiled by Imam al-Nawawi | Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh
2022-11-02 13:30 - 14:15 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Ustadha Nihad Hemmoudeh facilitates a 45-minute live Zoom session for sisters (posted the following day publicly on MCC’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram) about the collection of the Forty Hadith, compiled by al-Imam al-Nawawi.
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. PST | Tuesdays | 12 consecutive weeks from September 20 to December 6 | No pre-registration needed | Join live each week at 1:30 p.m. on Zoom at https://mcceastbay.org/hadith

– Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/nawawi
– PDF of 40 Hadith: https://mcceastbay.org/40

Imam al-Nawawi’s compilation of forty hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is considered by scholars as a compilation conveying the most holistic and comprehensive understanding of Islam.
This series will elaborate on the collection of the Forty Hadith, compiled by al-Imam al-Nawawi. Everyone desiring to attain the Hereafter should know these narrations for the critical information they contain, the guidance they provide, and the light they shed on the lives of Muslims.
Attending this 12-week weekly course will teach attendees about the ahaadeeth and the commentary for each Hadith.
The weekly live session is for sisters only. Boys & girls ages 7 to 14 are welcome to join. Join the live session at 1:30 p.m. every Tuesday at https://mcceastbay.org/hadith

– 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 Nohad: https://mcceastbay.org/nihad

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Imam al-Nawawi’s 40 Hadith have come to be known as the most comprehensive and holistic compilation/collection of Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) that convey the essence of Islam. Imam al-Nawawi’s collection of 40 Hadiths is one of the most important collections of hadiths we have today. He compiled a total of 42 hadiths for this collection, not 40. Allah (SWT) granted him blessing and success in his work so that he could make significant contributions to Islam before passing away at a relatively young age. The Imam was a scholar in many different disciplines of Islamic studies. The vastness of his works in these other areas is so great that if an individual decides to study fiqh, hadith, spirituality, or Quran, one must pass through Imam al- Nawawi. Along with the 40 Hadiths, he authored Riyad al-Saliheen, Al-Adhkar, and commentary of Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari.

MCC Community's Monthly Khatem-e-Quran
2022-11-02 19:30 - 21:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
“The most beloved deeds to Allah (SWT) are those which are done consistently, even if they are little.” – Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
Please join your MCC community in a monthly communal completion of the book of Allah.
Each month, congregation members complete one Juz of the Holy Qur’an. On the first Wednesday the following month, we meet at 7:30 p.m. for a Zikr, Qur’an Khatam dua, and collective community dua, followed by a community potluck (bring a dish to share!).
This community dua is led by Qari Amar Bellaha and Ustadh Amu Tarif. This program is also streamed virtually at https://mcceastbay.org/live.
Please finish your Juz by the first Wednesday of each month. Sign up for Juz at mcceastbay.org/juz
Fall ’22 & Winter ’23 Wednesday Monthly Du’as with Qari Amar and Ustadh Amu Tarif:

– October 5, 2022
– November 2, 2022
– December 7, 2022
– January 4, 2023
– February 1. 2023
– March 1, 2023

Encourage your family members and friends from across the globe to participate in this noble endeavor.

– More Qari Amar: https://mcceastbay.org/amar
– More Ustadh Amu Tarif: https://mcceastbay.org/tarif

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
The benefits and virtues of reciting the Holy Qur’an and sending Salawat upon Rasulullah (S) are numerous. Along with bringing great barakah into our lives, these two acts of ‘ibadah are a means by which Allah elevates our rank in Jannah.
Though it may be challenging to make a habit of tilawah and Salawat individually, there is strength in our numbers. Join your MCC community in our goal of collectively completing a completing Qur’an khatam.

Brentwood Muslim Community Center Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2022-11-04 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Brentwood Masjid (Brentwood Muslim Community Center) is raising $1.5 million to buy an 8.16-acre parcel of land to build a new masjid/community center that can accommodate more than 600 families in the Brentwood/Oakley/Discovery Bay areas. The current facility is at its 150-family capacity. Learn more: https://brmcc.org

Three Jumu’ah Services @ MCC
2022-11-04 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For our Jumu’ah services on Friday, November 4, masks are optional to attend any MCC service, and no RSVP is necessary:

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – INDOOR ONLY

– Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali delivers this sermon.

– No social distancing option in Prayer Hall (shoulder-to-shoulder). Social distance worship is available for women in Banquet Hall & men in Conference Room.

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. – INDOOR ONLY

– Brother Mohammed Abdul Baseer delivers this sermon.

– No social distancing option in Prayer Hall (shoulder-to-shoulder). Social distance worship is available for women in Banquet Hall & men in Conference Room.

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m. – INDOOR ONLY

– Sidi Shaan Mukhtar delivers this sermon.

– No social distancing option in Prayer Hall (shoulder-to-shoulder). Social distance worship is available for women in Banquet Hall and men in Conference Room.

Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible. Masks are optional.

Jumu’ah parking for three services is in the MCC and the neighboring HP lot. The aerial map at https://mcceastbay.org/hp

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

– More Sidi Abdullah: HTTP://mccceastbay.org/abdullah

– More Sidi Sidi Basser: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/baseer

– More Sidi Shan: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/shaan

For parents attending with young children indoors, MCC offers private mothers’ and fathers’ rooms with an audio and visual connection to Prayer Hall. Parents can watch the sermon and pray while in the company of other parents with young children. The mothers/fathers prayer room is just past the Banquet Hall doors into the school area.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

The Alameda County Health Department reports COVID-19 cases are still happening. We remain indoors for the five daily prayers and three Jumu’ah services as long as health officials deem it safe. All the Jumu’ah prayers are indoors in the MCC Prayer Hall. Learn more at https://mcceastbay.org/prayer

Weekly Afternoon Flag Football Camp
2022-11-04 16:30 - 18:30 | Hart Middle School, Willow Road, Pleasanton, CA, 4433 Willow Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94588, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join Sidi Zeeshan Mukhtar for a seven-week flag football camp for boys ages 8 to 13.
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Weekly on Fridays after the third youth Jumu’ah | Friday, September 16, 2022 to Friday, November 4, 2022,| Track & Field @ Hart Middle School | Admissions $40/child and $35/ additional child | Register at mcceastbay.org/football
The camp and halaqa is broken up into two age groups: ages 8 to 10 and ages 11 to 13.
About the Facilitator
Sidi Zeeshan Mukhtar is a Bay Area economist and a volunteer financial counselor at MCC for our Zakat applicants. He has raised three boys with his wife, Hina Khan-Mukhtar.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Dr. Rania Awaad's Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2022-11-04 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 Friday evening women’s gathering about navigating contemporary issues.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Every Friday from October 14, 2022 to March 17, 2023 | 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

Free babysitting is provided in Room 16. Facility map: https://mcceastbay.org/facility-map
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
This halaqa is hosted parallel to our girl’s program in partnership with Rahmah Foundation.
Ustadha Rania AwaadRaised in the U.S., Ustadha Rania Awaad 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 Ijaazah (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, and is on the faculty of Zaytuna College, where she teaches courses in Shafi’i fiqh, 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 currently serves as the Director of the Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization that teaches Muslim women and girls traditional Islamic knowledge. 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.
From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., join Dr. Rania Awaad‘s women’s gathering about navigating contemporary issues. 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.
Friday evening sessions in Fall 2022 and Winter 2023:

– October 14
– October 21
– October 28
– November 5
– November 11
– November 18
– November 25 (no session)
– December 2
– December 9
– December 16
– December 23 (no session)
– December 30 (no session)
– January 6, 2023
– January 13, 2023
– January 20, 2023
– January 27, 2023
– February 3, 2023
– February 10, 2023
– February 17, 2023
– February 24, 2023
– March 3, 2023
– March 10, 2023
– March 17, 2023 (last session before Ramadan 2023)

Monthly Sisterhood Hike at Mount Diablo State Park
2022-11-05 08:00 - 10:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join us from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on November 5 for a Saturday morning hike at Secret Valley Loop at Mount Diablo State Park in Walnut Creek to get to know other sisters in the community and enjoy the great outdoors. No children, please (female teens, okay).

– When: Saturday, November 5
– Time: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Please arrive a little early to park and find the group. The group can wait till 8:10 a.m. and will start the hike. Please be on time since we cannot hold the group.
– Carpool: No carpool from MCC is available for this hike. Carpool encouraged others on this hike.

– Parking: Entrance Fee is $6. We’ll meet by the parking lot right after you enter the gate.

– Location: Summit Rd, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
– Distance: 6.0 miles
– All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/secret-valley-loop
– Difficulty: Moderate
– Misc: Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry enough water, a small snack, a hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have one. No cell network in that area, suggest carpooling and downloading the AllTrail maps.
– RSVP: By Friday, November 4, please let us know you are coming for this hike: https://mcceastbay.org/rsvp

Sr. Aparna Khan and Sr. Sohaila will be leading this hike. On the day of the hike, if you have trouble finding the group, please call or text Sr. Aparna at (408) 480-6584. Please remember that we cannot hold all the group so we request you to please be on time.
For future hikes, please subscribe to the MCC newsletter and/or add your phone number to the Women’s Hiking WhatsUp group.
Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry a water bottle, a small snack, hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have one.
About the Trail:

Get to know this 6.0-mile loop trail near Walnut Creek, California. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 4 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and horseback riding, so you’ll likely encounter other people while exploring. You’ll need to leave pups at home — dogs aren’t allowed on this trail.
This trail has numerous vistas of Mt. Diablo, much of the East Bay, and up into Napa Valley. Down in Secret Valley the trail gives a sense of what the early explorers and settlers experienced in this part of the state. One absolutely gets the feeling of traveling down one of the old stage roads. Portions of the trail are open to equestrian and mountain bikers.

Questions? hiking@mcceastbay.org

Addiction Family Support Group
2022-11-05 11:00 - 12:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Nearly 37 percent of Muslims report personally knowing a person who has or is struggling with addiction. Yet Most Muslims with addiction and their families find little support in their communities.
Are you looking for resources to help you support someone struggling with addiction? Is someone else’s addiction negatively affecting you?
Help is on the way for you and your loved ones struggling with an addiction. MCC is now hosting Al-Anon Family Group meetings.
Join our weekly anonymous meetings from 11 a.m. to noon starting on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at MCC in Room 16. Enter MCC from Suite 150. In this open and confidential setting, you will learn how to apply basic recovery principles to your personal or loved one’s situation.
There is no fee to participate and pre-registration is not required.
This is an open meeting, so families, friends, and observers are welcome. Recovery is for everyone!
For those who cannot attend this in-person weekly support, the Madina House offers a regular virtual family support group: https://www.madinahouse.org/family-group
Regardless of the issue, you are dealing with, we know that hosting space in your spiritual community center is part of the lasting change from the inside out.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

What is Al-Anon?
The Al-Anon Family Groups are a fellowship of relatives and friends of those affected by another person’s alcoholism and substance use who share their experiences, strength, and hope, in order to solve their common problems. Addiction is regarded as a family illness, and the philosophy focuses on the principle that changed attitudes can aid recovery.
Al-Anon is not allied with any sect, denomination, political entity, organization, or institution; does not engage in any controversy, and neither endorses nor opposes any cause. There are no dues for membership. Al-Anon is self-supporting through its own voluntary contributions. This Al-Anon Family Group session is called Celebrating Surrender AFG WSO ID 30787606.

– MCC’s Substance Use Family Support Group: https://mcceastbay.org/support-group
– More talks about various forms of use in Muslim Community: https://mcceastbay.org/abuse

Resources

Muslims find a safe place to recover from alcohol addiction: the mosque
For Muslims wrestling with substance abuse, it’s often a silent struggle
Substance Abuse and Addiction in the Muslim Community: Facing Stigma and Seeking Support
The Imam and the Drug Addict, IlmFeed
Overcoming Addiction: An Islamic Approach to Recovery (OAIAR)

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
FAQs ABOUT AL-ANON
Is this a religious fellowship?
The Al-Anon Family Group is a spiritual fellowship, not a religious one. We avoid discussion of specific religious doctrine, and members of all faiths (or of none) are welcome. Our Twelve Steps ask us to find a “Power greater than ourselves” who can help us solve our problems and find serenity. Each member is free to define that power in his or her own way.
Is an appointment needed?
No advance notification or formal written referral is necessary to attend an Al-Anon or Alateen meeting. Most Al-Anon groups have a contact who can be called for information about the group, our program in general, or for directions to a meeting. For this meeting, it is munir@mcceastbay.org.
How much is this going to cost?
There are no dues or fees in Al-Anon and Alateen meetings. MCC does not charge a fee to provide the space. Some other groups pass a basket for voluntary contributions to support paying rent (if applicable), provide literature, and offer support to local and worldwide service centers.
Is there a registration process to attend Al-Anon meetings?
The meetings are on a walk-in basis. Al-Anon has no membership list and does not take attendance. You’re welcome to attend as frequently or infrequently as you choose. There is never any obligation.
How will Al-Anon help me?
Many who come to Al-Anon/Alateen are in despair, feeling hopeless, unable to believe that things can ever change. We want our lives to be different, but nothing we have done has brought about change. We all come to Al-Anon because we want and need help.
In Al-Anon and Alateen, members share their own experience, strength, and hope with each other. You will meet others who share your feelings and frustrations, if not your exact situation. We come together to learn a better way of life, to find happiness whether our loved one is still addicted or not. It is recommended to try 6 different meetings to determine if Al-anon is right for you.
My friend/loved one is a drug addict. Can I go to an Al-Anon meeting?
You are also welcome to try Al-Anon meetings, then decide if the Al–Anon program might be helpful to you. The primary purpose of Al-Anon is to provide support to those affected by another person’s drinking. In a membership survey 35% of our members said they joined our program because of a loved one’s drug addiction and that their lives had improved since attending meetings. The survey also showed that 78% of these members eventually realized that someone’s drinking also negatively affected their lives.
There is another program, Nar-Anon, which is for people affected by a loved one’s drug addiction. You can visit their web site here: Nar–Anon.org. You are also welcome to try Al–Anon meetings, then decide if the Al-Anon program might be helpful to you.
Will anyone say I’ve been there?
Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of Al-anon, ever a reminder to place principles above personalities. One of the ways this is carried out is by group members introducing themselves by first name only. Meetings are confidential, and we do not disclose whom we see or what we hear at meetings to anyone.
Do I have to say anything at a meeting?
It is your choice to speak or not during the meetings. Newcomers are welcomed to meetings, usually provided with literature and a local meeting list, and invited to listen and learn. Some meetings offer beginners’ meetings, specifically for newcomers. Long-time members are available to answer questions before or after the meetings.
Resources

Al-Anon Family Group (for families with a loved one suffering through an addiction)
East Bay Intergroup of Alcoholics Anonymous (for those suffering through an addiction)
Alameda County Department of Public Health – Substance Abuse Resource List
Alameda County Behavioral Health – Resource List and Helpline (1-844-682-7215)

Youth Listening Session & Meet & Greet with New MCC Youth Leaders
2022-11-05 11:00 - 12:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Welcome our two new youth leaders: Maryam Awwal & Hafiz Zaid Khanani.
MCC holds our precious future in its walls.
These two dynamic leaders will curate practical and meaningful programming for our teens and families in the coming weeks.
We begin with two meet-and-greet sessions in which these youth leaders listen to what youth and parents of children want so that they can hit the ground running.
Please join us in person, online, or submit your comment/suggestion here at mcceastbay.org/questions:

Teen Only Town Hall: 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, October 28 (high schoolers only; pizza provided)
Community Town Hall: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 5 (high schoolers only; pizza provided)

These community servants are here to serve you. You can also directly reach Maryam Awwal at maryam@mcceastbay.org and Sidi Zaid at zaid@mcceastbay.org.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Maryam Awwal is a second-year Master of Arts student at Zaytuna College studying Islamic law and legal theory. She has a master’s in Counseling Psychology from the Wright Institute and is currently pursuing associateships in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling. She also has a BA in Liberal Arts & Islamic Studies from Zaytuna College and a BA in Economics from UC Davis.
Her hopes after graduating are to further her education in various sacred Islamic sciences and to support the development of sound Muslim communities in the West.
Zaid Khanani is a Marriage and Family Therapy trainee with the City of Fremont, Youth and Family Services. He graduated from Zaytuna College and completed his Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology at the Wright Institute. Hafiz Zaid continues his formal Islamic Studies with local teachers and scholars overseas. He is a former Islamic Studies teacher at Northstar Islamic School and teaches numerous online classes.
To make an appointment for parents or youth to meet with MCC’s Youth leaders:
– Maryam Awwal: http://calendly.com/mcc-maryam– Hafiz Zaid Khanani: http://calendly.com/mcc-zaid

Singles Meet and Greet
2022-11-05 13:00 - 16:00 | CA
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*Alhamdulliah. Thank you for a wonderful response, single sisters and brothers in the Bay Area. We are positively full for this Saturday’s matrimonial event. Please sign up for advance notice of our next quarterly event in 2023 at https://mcceastbay.org/wait
Are you a single Muslim or Muslimah looking for the right partner to form a happy marriage? Then this event is for you.
Every four months, MCC East Bay teams with the much-lauded Half Our Deen platform to run a thoughtful, fun, private quarterly matrimonial event that is a profound departure from the tired traditional match-making session and that uses personality questions & fun activities to help our singles sisters and brothers get closer to finding a spouse.
This is a matrimonial event appropriately done – from thoughtfully screening every application, an equal ratio of men to women, and a fair chance for all to engage in a fun and exciting way through activities that melt the awkwardness of a singles mixer. This event is co-hosted with MCC, and the event venue will be shared only with approved applicants.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturday, November 5 | Exact address is TBA to only registered attendees only (the venue is in Pleasanton) | $94/person (fewer than 70 spots available) | Registration now open at https://mcceastbay.org/singles
If you cannot make this event, sign up for our notification list for the next quarterly event: https://mcceastbay.org/wait
This event breaks from ineffective speed-dating matrimonial events and traditional match-making. This game-oriented event caters to the need for more creative and effective ways to meet and learn about others. Many premarital and personality questions are incorporated into the event activities to allow for a quick dip into meaningful relationship questions.
The Bay is filled with Muslim singles, and we will sell out. Apply now: https://mcceastbay.org/singles
Questions? offline@halfourdeen.com or events@mcceastbay.org
What to expect?
Fun
We don’t play musical chairs because relationships can’t be based on 3-minute conversations. So instead, we have exclusive fun games and activities designed specifically for marriage-minded Muslims to help you naturally learn about each other. (Here is a sneak peek into an actual live event)
Filtered
We are the only Muslim organization that filters our applicants and hand-picks every attendee. This allows us to select members most likely to be compatible and helps ensure that we have a balanced number of men and women at every event.
Proven
61% of the attendees at our last event found a match. No other single event even comes close to the success of HD Live, so it’s no surprise that about 25% of attendees travel (including flights from outside the state and country) to attend this exclusive event.
Private
Our close-door events are at undisclosed locations because we take privacy very seriously. We believe that the only people that should know you’re attending the event are the people attending the event. In addition, our HD Live app allows you to show interest without the fear of rejection since matches are privately sent at midnight and only if the interest is mutual.
FAQs from MCC
Who can register?
This event is designed for Muslim singles from Northern California to meet in a private and casual atmosphere. Space is limited. Muslims from all states can apply, but priority will be given to singles residing in Northern California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area. If our single sisters and brothers give positive feedback, MCC intends to cohost matrimonial events bi-annually or quarterly.
Who is the moderator?
Baba Ali, the co-founder of Half Our Deen, is an Iranian-born American comedian, game developer, businessman, and actor. He is the co-founder of the revolutionary matchmaking site Half Our Deen, an alternative to the Muslim dating apps we see today. He is also the founder of Ummah Films, a Muslim film company that attempts to provide Halal entertainment to Muslims and non-Muslims. Baba Ali rose to prominence within the online Muslim community with Ummah Films, which discusses various Islamic topics using humor.
Baba Ali has traveled the world doing stand-up to a wide range of Muslim and non-Muslim audiences. He has performed all over the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, performing for audiences as large as 37,000 and for all ages. He has been reviewed in The New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times and featured in seven episodes of DirecTV’s The Fizz News. Ali Ardekani is a video blogger to his viewers as Baba Ali.

Why is MCC collaborating with Half Our Deen?
Half Our Deen is an expert in the Muslim matching department and has a system that works. Their website and offline match-making events use personality matching to help connect like-minded Muslims and create lasting matches. For the last 11 years, the site has explicitly catered to marriage-minded Muslims and has over 2500+ success stories. Our event is modeled on their successful system.
MCC East Bay is pleased to offer our single community in the Bay Area the ability to use Half Our Deen’s resources to search for a spouse. HOD is unique in its ability to offer personality testing, high privacy standards, and offline events, which we believe will enhance the process for our single Muslims.
Everyone deserves to find true love and happiness in marriage. MCC is privileged to be a part of your life story by helping to facilitate this chance to meet the right person!
How does it work?

Simply fill out the brief application telling us about yourself and who you are looking for. You will receive an email from us within a few days with the next steps. It’s vital that you add offline@halfourdeen.com to your contacts to prevent bouncebacks and spam/promotional archiving.
If your application is accepted, you will need to register for the event and make your payment to secure your seat.
The event will take place at a private location near Pleasanton, California. Exact location details will be provided only to accepted attendees before the event.

Questions? offline@halfourdeen.com
I cannot afford the registration fee.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should not hold a person back from benefiting from any event held in the MCC facility or cosponsored by MCC. To request a discounted or full financial waiver, please visit https://mcceastbay.org/scholarship
Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit. This event is for adults 18+. Your selection for the event depends on attendees in the same range apply for this event.
To increase the chances of successful matches, we are using a selection process to ensure quality and compatible candidates are in attendance. The goal is compatibility. For example, if most applicants indicate that the maximum age they are looking for in a spouse is 40, and you are older, your application would not be accepted. However, please don’t let this deter you from applying for our future events, as acceptance criteria change based on who applies for each event.
Is lunch offered?
We will have snacks, coffee, and tea. We will not have time for a full-fledged meal. Please make sure you have a hearty meal before the event begins at noon.
Will I still receive my confirmation if I am on the waiting list?
If it is determined that no compatible matches for you will be in attendance at the event, you will be placed on a waiting list. As we receive more applications, the criteria might change, and there will be a chance that you are still invited to the event. We do our best to invite as many matches as possible to increase everyone’s chances of meeting the right person. If you still haven’t heard from us in the weeks leading into the event, there were no candidates matching your criteria at this particular event. Please be patient and try again at another MCC matrimonial event (sign up for our newsletter at https://mcceastbay.org/newsletter).
Do I need a HalfOurDeen membership to attend the event?
You do not need a membership with HalfOurDeen to apply for this event; however, accepted applicants must complete their profile on HOD to attend. You will need a profile on HalfOurDeen to participate since this singles event is characterized by a unique online/offline interaction. If you’re not already a member of HalfOurDeen, no problem. HalfOurDeen is providing a 90-day free trial membership for all MCC event attendees. Please note that your trial membership ends after 90 days, so you won’t be charged until the 31st. You can cancel right after the event if you choose. One particular advantage is that after meeting individuals at the event, you can learn more about them through their online profiles before connecting. A HOD-free membership will allow you to view anyone’s profile who is also registered with the site. This way, there is no need to exchange personal information at the event, and all follow-up communication can be done safely through the HOD website after the event.
How do you screen applicants?
During the application process, applicants will answer a questionnaire that tells us a little about them and what they are looking for (or not looking for). Answers are then compared to the answers of all other applicants to determine who can attend to increase the chances for successful matches based on compatibility and personality matching.
Why was my application not accepted?
To increase the chances of successful matches, we are using a selection process to ensure quality and compatible candidates are in attendance. The goal is compatibility. For example, if most applicants indicate that the maximum age they are looking for in a spouse is 40, and you are older, your application would not be accepted. However, please don’t let this deter you from applying for our future events, as acceptance criteria change based on who applies for each event.
Can I bring a family member or a friend to the event?
No. This event is specifically tailored to the applicants who apply and are accepted based on the information provided during the application process. Everything from the games played to the seating chart is specific to those who have secured a spot. That is why only those who have applied and have been accepted are allowed to attend. Moreover, this is a private event, and to protect the privacy of others, only those who have been accepted will be given specific event details that must not be shared with anyone. Please encourage your friends who want to attend to apply! To keep this event as private as possible, the candidates are the only people allowed to attend it. Our committee members will do their best to ensure that all interactions are kept focused and constantly monitored throughout the event.
What should I do if I haven’t received a confirmation email?
If you have not received a payment submission email after completing your application, we are receiving a high volume of applications and are still processing them. If you still haven’t heard from us by Feb 28th, there were no candidates matching your criteria at this particular event. If you have any questions about the selection process, please watch this https://youtu.be/NqHiZXhWtcw
How is this event different from other Muslim matrimonial events that have taken place in NorCal?
We are making every effort to ensure that our event is done professionally organized manner that aligns with Islamic principles. Unlike other events, we will thoroughly vet all applicants via a detailed application. This process will ensure that the attendees are serious about marriage and that there are enough attendees of the opposite gender potentially compatible with *you* and your preferences. We will try our best to have as close to a 50:50 ratio of females to males as possible.
We will have a wide variety of structured activities that will help you get to know the potential in a low-key, pressure-free, and fun way. Our activities will be structured so people of all personality types can easily participate. So whether introverted, extroverted, or somewhere in the middle, you can participate in all the activities quickly—and, more importantly, get to know the potential in the process. You can also have the peace of mind of knowing that no one will have the spotlight on them at any time.
In light of keeping in line with Islamic principles, our event will be constantly monitored by chaperones who will ensure that all interactions are kept professional and focused. They will also be there to help facilitate conversation and answer questions as necessary.
Can I be sure that the information on my application will be kept private?
Absolutely. This is our Amanah (trust), and we will not release your information to anyone without your permission. Your application will only be reviewed by the HOD Offline staff.
I am worried that others might discover I will be at this event. How will the event be kept private?
The only people that know that you will be at the event…are the people at the event (and, of course, the people you tell). The MCC Matrimony Committee or HOD Offline will not inform anyone of your attendance. We are also keeping the event location private. The venue address will only be sent to you once you have fully registered and paid. So please do not share the event location with anyone!
Is there a dress code?
Our only dress code is that your clothing must be by Islamic principles (clothes cannot be revealing, tight, or see-through). Other than that, feel free to express your personality! Remember that you want to protect yourself best while remaining modest and genuine.
I do not wear a headscarf in public. Do I have to wear one to the event?
Although we highly encourage everyone to dress as closely by Islamic principles as possible, we will not ask that you wear a headscarf, as the event is not in a masjid prayer space. That said, anyone dressed inappropriately will not be allowed to participate in the event.
What precautions are you taking during the Covid-19 Pandemic?
Given the social nature of the event, where attendees will be meeting new people for the first time and eating, we will require masks for the duration of the event.

FAQs from HOD
How is the Offline process different?
We steer clear of the speed-dating approach. The 3 minutes you give to talk to each person is great if you are looking for a 3-hour relationship. But not so much for a life-long commitment. Right from receiving your application, we screen to ensure only the most compatible attend by screening all our applicants. Our events have an even ratio of men to women, giving everyone a fair chance. By engaging people in a fun and exciting activities, we break the ice and eliminate awkwardness. Since all our attendees are also on HOD Online, the follow-up after the event is relatively simple.
Why do I need a Half Deen membership to attend?
One of the unique features of Half Deen Offline is that everyone at the event can be found on Half Deen Online. You can view their profile online if you find someone interesting and would instead learn more about them before showing interest. No personal information exists because follow-up is done safely through our website after the event. You’ll have access to more than 3,000 active profiles. This way, even if you don’t find your ideal match at the offline event, you still have a great chance of finding them online. Our Offline events are for Members Only! You can become one by going to www.HalfDeen.com
What happens if the event is sold out?
We wish we could accommodate everyone! Due to this event’s increasing popularity, the seats fill fast. We keep the ratio of women to men at 1:1. Due to this, we sometimes have to temporarily halt the registration for the gender ahead until we can level the playing field. We ensure that everyone has an opportunity for a match. Keep checking the site to see when and where our next event will be.
What criteria do you screen applicants by?
We believe in quality matches. We don’t set the criteria, our applicants do. We review every application carefully and study your criteria for a spouse. We only invite those that meet your criteria, so you have a great shot right from the start. We are the only Muslim organization that filters our applicants to ensure compatibility, increasing the chances that you will find “The One.” InshAllah!
Something came up. I cannot make it.
You can claim that up to two weeks before the event for cancellation and refunds with no conditions. For cancellations and refunds claimed up to one-week notice, you will be given a refund on the condition of finding an equal replacement for you to attend the event.
Concerning event planning, no refunds will be given after the one-week conditional cancellation cut-off. Please consider that for every person invited, several interested members turned away to keep good ratios and compatibility. If you missed the event, we cannot refund/transfer or give you credit for the next one. If you attended the event, we could not give you a refund due to you not finding your match.
Why is your event venue private?
We care about your privacy. Our event location is kept confidential and is only revealed to those who are paid and confirmed. Nobody knows you are at the event except those at the event. We do not accept any walk-ups to the event.

Event Safety:
We’re encouraging our attendees and staff to adopt social distancing and sanitization measures to help keep everyone attending as safe as possible. As events are being scheduled again, their status may change due to developing safety policies, but we’ll keep you posted if that’s the case.

Mask Recommended: We recommend attendees wear a mask during the event and in public areas (exceptions made while seated during snacks)
Clean Venue: Steps to sanitize surfaces throughout have been taken before the event.
Social Distancing: The recommended six feet of distance is suggested throughout the event for a safe distance event.
Temperature Checks: Attendees will be asked to submit contactless temperature checks before entering the venue hall.
Hand Sanitizer Stations: Attendees can access various hand sanitizing stations that will be located throughout the venue.

#TeamFajr Bi-Weekly Sunday Breakfast
2022-11-06 06:00 - 07:15 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
“If people knew the reward in praying Fajr & Isha in a congregation, they would go to the Masjid even if they had to crawl” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Join Qari Amar Bellaha on the first Sunday of each month. Pray the pre-dawn prayer in congregation followed by recitations of Surah Yaseen and Al-Wird Al-Latif (booklets provided) in unison and following sunup, Salat al-Ishraq prayer in congregation. Our monthly Fajr gathering is also live streamed at mcceastbay.org/live
Following the post-sunrise prayer, Qari Amar and anyone else who wishes to accompany him will visit Five Pillars Islamic Cemetery in Livermore (weather permitting).
MCC provides tea, coffee, orange juice & muffins.
Fall & Winter 2022 dates and Fajr times:

Sunday, October 2 | Fajr Iqamah at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday, November 6 | Fajr Iqamah at 6 a.m.
Sunday, December 4 | Fajr Iqamah at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday, January 1, 2023 | Fajr Iqamah at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 5, 2023 | Fajr Iqamah at 6:15 a.m.
Sunday, March 5, 2023 (last Fajr gathering before Ramadan) | Fajr Iqamah at 5:45 a.m.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

More Qari Amar: https://mcceastbay.org/amar
Imam al-Haddad’s litanies (al-Wird al-Latif): https://mcceastbay.org/wird
The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “He who performs the Fajr will be under the protection of Allah.” [Muslim]
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “The best prayer before Allah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.”
