Sacred Knowldge Night: Pursuing Islamic Studies in America
2025-10-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles)
Many in our community wonder how they can deepen their Islamic studies and pursue knowledge of the deen. But with rising costs, political instability, and many other challenges, where do we turn?
This event will bring together a circle of our younger community Imams and students of knowledge under one roof:

– Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk, who studied at Bayan Islamic Graduate School
– Ustadh Basil Farooq, who studied at Qalam Seminary
– Sidi Ahmed Khan, who studied at Zaytuna College
– Sidi Shaan Mukhtar, who studied at The Islamic Seminary of America (TISA) (Also, the event MC)
– Sidi Hassan Khawaja, who studed at DUA Seminary (Dārul-‘Ulūm al-Ashrafiyya)
– Hafiz Afraz Khan, who studed at AIM Seminary (The Majlis)
– Ustadh Quran Hodge, who studied at Al-Maqasid

Friday, October 10, 2025 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Join us in-person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
To seek Islamic knowledge during dark times is a protection. “How to Pursue Islamic Studies in the West” is a valuable information session, particularly for Muslim women and men aspirants (of any age) who have considered pursuing Islamic scholarship alongside another career. The speakers will talk about their expereince at their respective alma mater, its mission, curriculum, teachers, enrollment process, etc.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
The evening will feature:

– Introductions to each seminary: mission, programs, and opportunities for study.
– Guidance on pathways of learning for different stages of life—full-time, part-time, and online.
– Q&A and community discussion on how we can strengthen sacred learning here at home.

This talk “Studying Islam in America: An Open House with US-Based Islamic Seminaries” is intended for parents, teens, and young professionals exploring Islamic Study options available in the U.S. and Canada.
Sidi Shaan Mukhtar
Sidi Shaan Mukhtar was born in the Bay Area and raised in the MCC community from a young age. Shaan has actively contributed to establishing high school and community college MSAs, as well as youth halaqas, at various mosques in the San Francisco Bay Area. Shaan holds a BA in Political Science from UC Davis and has pursued a passion for Islamic learning. He attended the Ilm Tree Homeschooling Cooperative during middle school, where he studied Islamic Sciences under Shaykh Rami Nsour. During college, Shaan took a gap year to study Arabic in Jordan. He is currently pursuing his MA in Islamic Studies at the Islamic Seminary of America (TISA), where he is studying alongside senior American Muslim scholars, including Shaykh Yasir Qadhi, Shaykha Tamara Gray, and Dr. James Jones, among others. He currently works in tech and resides in the Bay Area with his wife, where he continues to engage in community building and outreach.
Sidi Muhammad Elmarouk
Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk is a professional calligrapher and student of knowledge.
He was born and raised in the Bay Area. At the age of 14, he moved overseas to Mauritania, where he memorized the entire Holy Quran. From Mauritania, he traveled to Jordan, where he studied the Islamic sciences and traditional Islamic calligraphy for four years, receiving Ijazas in Tajweed and Hadith narration. From Jordan, he moved to Turkey, where he completed his calligraphy training and studied Fiqh under the guidance of renowned Syrian scholars. Muhammad continues to study privately and has taught the Islamic Sciences for six years. He now resides in Toronto, Canada, where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Theology. Sidi Muhammad trained and competed in BJJ and wrestling for ten years in the USA and Jordan.
Imam Basil Farouq
Ustadh Basil Farouq grew up in the UAE and the Bay Area. He completed memorizing the Quran at the age of 14. Later, he completed his study of the ten canonical qirā’āt of the Quran and received authorization (ijāza) to transmit and teach them at Recite with Love. He completed a BA in Economics and Applied Mathematics from UC Berkeley in 2019 and worked full-time as an economist in the antitrust litigation industry.
Sidi Basil Farouq has pursued higher Islamic education for over five years and is currently an ‘Alimiyyah student at Qalam Institute in Dallas. He has studied Tafsīr, Hadith, Fiqh (Shāfi’ī and Hanafī), Usul al-Fiqh, ‘Aqīda, Tajwīd, ‘Ulum al-Qur’an, and Arabic Literature. He is also conducting research and writing on various topics within Quranic Studies and Tafsīr under the guidance of his teachers. He recently published a short book titled “Within Its Depths: How the Canonical Recitations Affect the Meaning of the Qur’an.”
Hafiz Afraz Khan
Hafiz Afraz Khan is an organizer and faith worker. Upon completing his MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, he transitioned into social impact consulting, supporting nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. He now works at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), leading legislative advocacy campaigns across states to help build legal protections in areas such as immigration and free speech. Afraz memorized the Qur’an after 8 years of study and conducts tajweed classes for the local community.
Afraz expanded on his studies by attending Zaytuna College’s Summer Quranic Arabic Intensive, completing a classical Arabic course through Studio Arabiya, and studying under Imam Khalid Latif for several years. He is currently a seminary student at The Majlis in their Community Servants Program. As part of his community work, Afraz serves as a teacher at Lighthouse Mosque in Oakland, where he conducts weekly classes on Qur’anic engagement and spiritual development. He volunteers as a chaplain for jail populations and supports student programming at colleges like Los Medanos and Stanford. Afraz delivers khutbahs across the Bay Area and has led taraweeh at Berkeley Masjid and Lighthouse Mosque, while also conducting nightly talks on the lessons found in each section of the Qur’an.
Qur’an Hodge
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 children in Castro Valley.
Hassan Khawaja
Hassan Khawaja studied Data Science at UC Berkeley. After completing his degree, he worked in corporate for a year before moving to Sacramento, where he helped run a woodworking business with an artist.
Though he had no intention of pursuing Islamic studies, nor had he ever considered it, by Allah ﷻ’s grace the door to study opened.
He is now in his fifth year of the seven-year ʿĀlimiyya program at DUA Seminary, while also working in the tech field, Alhamdulillāh.

– More Sidi Shaan: http://mcceastbay.org/shaan
– More Sidi Muhammad: http://mcceastbay.org/muhammad
– More Imam Basil: http://mcceastbay.org/basil

Women's Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa | The Rahmah Foundation
2025-10-10 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 19, 2025, to May 22, 2026 | 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 Night Halaqa (FNH) 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 FNH Fall session runs from Friday, September 19, 2025, to May 22, 2026, with no halaqas on the following dates: Friday, November 28, December 19, December 26, January 2, February 20 through March 27, April 3, and April 10. See calendar.

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

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

This women’s halaqa is hosted at MCC and runs parallel to the girls & teens 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

Monthly Men's Hike | Mount Diablo State Park
2025-10-11 08:00 - 11:30 | Mt. Diablo State Park
For Brothers! Join a brotherhood that hikes through life’s ups and downs, finding strength and community in the great outdoors. Our Monthly MCC Brothers Hike caters to various fitness levels and explores East Bay’s serene landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking to start, we welcome you to share in this journey of fellowship and discovery.

Saturday, October 11 | 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Mount Diablo State Park | No children, please (teenage boys, okay) | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike
If brothers want to walk around more, they can do it depending on their interest/time. The hike will be canceled with insufficient RSVPs, depending on the weather.

When: Saturday, October 11, 2025
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – Please arrive 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: We highly recommend carpooling. No carpool from MCC is available for this hike.
Parking: $6
Meeting Point: Mitchell Canyon Parking Lot
Trail: Back Canyon Loop
Distance: Around 5.9 miles.
Difficulty: Moderate.
Misc: Pack a snack and water for yourself. Wear hiking shoes if possible. Bring a small breakfast/ Lunch sandwich or something to eat. Carry enough water, a hat, and a light jacket. Please download the All Trails map (free version) if you decide to return in the middle of the hike. This will be very helpful when navigating back to the parking lot.
RSVP: By Friday, October 10, please let us know you are coming for this hike: https://mcceastbay.org/brothers-hike

Mohammed Kadoura leads these monthly hikes for the brothers. If you have trouble finding the group on the day of the hike, please call or text Br. Mohammed at (617) 935-7347. Please remember that we cannot hold all of the group, so we request you to please be on time.
For future hikes, please subscribe to the MCC newsletter and add your phone number to the Men’s Hiking WhatsApp group.
Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry a water bottle, a small snack, a hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have any.
Questions? hiking@mcceastbay.org
About this trail:
This trail begins at Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center and climbs Donner Canyon Road and descends Back Canyon Trail to create a somewhat challenging loop. There are lovely views of the surrounding hillsides and oak trees along the way. In the spring, the trail can be quite muddy, with a few creek crossings. There are also wildflowers and waterfalls along the route. During the summer months, this trail can get hot, as there is little shade. Bring lots of water and sun protection and start early in the day.
There is an alternative starting point on Regency Drive. Although, keep in mind the parking at the trailhead is for residents only and you may get a ticket.

Your Teen Already Has Burning Questions — Who's Giving Them the Answers? | Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk
2025-10-11 10:00 - 18:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Parents & Teenagers (Boys & Girls) Ages 14 to 18: We are losing our children in a sea of ideologies that encompass them at school, through their phones, on Netflix, and via friends or social media. Our standard, go-to solutions are not working.
Join Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk as he talks to parents and Muslim teens about how to:

– Develop a Rational Islamic Worldview
– Anchor one’s thinking in this rational Islamic worldview
– Make their Islam and study of it relevant to the world they live in through this critical rational lens

– Critically be able to think and analyze all aspects of modern culture
– Develop deep long-lasting friendships with the right people

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, 2025 & 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025 | MCC Conference Room | $10/in-person and $5/watch live online | Register at mcceastbay.org/burning
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
About the Presentor
Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk is a professional calligrapher and student of knowledge.
He was born and raised in the Bay Area. At the age of 14, Sidi Muhammed moved overseas to Mauritania, where he memorized the entire Holy Quran. From Mauritania, he traveled to Jordan, where he studied the Islamic sciences and traditional Islamic calligraphy for four years, receiving Ijazas in Tajweed and Hadith narration. From Jordan, he moved to Turkey, where he completed his calligraphy training and studied Fiqh under the guidance of renowned Syrian scholars. Muhammad continues to study privately and has taught the Islamic Sciences for six years. He now resides in Toronto, Canada, where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Theology. Sidi Muhammad trained and competed in BJJ and wrestling for ten years in the USA and Jordan.
Why This is Important?
In short, they need to experience the rational basis of Islam, be able to clearly articulate it and understand how to bring that into conversation with the Modern World through a critical thinking approach that stimulates their minds and satisfies their souls.
To become part of a group of like-minded individuals with whom they bond, share both intellectual and recreational experiences, and form life-long friendships that will provide them happiness in this world and the world to come.
Why Islam is True: Clarity in a World of Confusion and Contradiction
In a time when doubts are viral and convictions are rare, this course gives your teen the tools to believe with evidence and speak with confidence.
Through the four powerful Quranic arguments, students will build a rational framework for belief in God, revelation, and the truth of Islam, not just what to believe, but why.
This is more than just a class on Iman as the Prophet (SAW) taught it, but it’s more intellectual armor for your teen—training them to tackle life’s toughest questions, respond to common challenges, and engage in meaningful conversations about Islam with clarity, respect, and confidence.
Burning Questions: Your Teen Already Has Burning Questions — Who’s Giving Them the Answers?
This course trains them with the Tools to Think Clearly, Critically, and Confidently About Their Iman.
You can’t always control what your teen hears at school, on social media, or from friends. But you can prepare them.
“Burning Questions” is a transformative course designed to meet teens where they are — and take them further.
It empowers them to tackle the most difficult questions they’re already asking (or being asked), with answers that are:

– Rational
– Evidence-based
– Spiritually fulfilling

From “Does God really exist?” to “Why does Islam say that?”, this course doesn’t dodge the hard stuff.
It trains your teen to think deeply and critically, so their faith isn’t just inherited, it’s understood, owned, and defended with confidence.
This is more than a class. It’s intellectual armor for the modern world.
Meet the Teacher Who Connects With the Youth
Raised in North America, Muhammad Elmarouk traveled the Muslim world in search of sacred knowledge, studying with renowned scholars, memorizing the entire Qur’an, and earning credentials in classical Islamic sciences and the art of Islamic calligraphy from top teachers in Mauritania (Northwest Africa), the Arab world, and Turkey.
Muhammad brings over five years of experience teaching Muslim teens across the continent. He connects with them in ways that stick—whether he’s explaining logic, guiding them in Qur’an lessons, helping them refine their calligraphy strokes, or showing them how to defend themselves in a jiu-jitsu session.
From leading hikes to weaving sports analogies into a seerah lesson, he speaks their language.
As a trusted mentor, he brings the depth of classical Islamic learning into the lives of modern Muslim youth, equipping them with critical thinking skills and the confidence to face today’s challenges, rooted firmly in the Qur’an and Sunnah.
More About Muhammad Elmarouk
Hafiz Muhammad Elmarouk is a professional calligrapher and student of knowledge.
He was born and raised in the Bay Area. At the age of 14, he moved overseas to Mauritania, where he memorized the entire Holy Quran. From Mauritania, he traveled to Jordan, where he studied the Islamic sciences and traditional Islamic calligraphy for four years, receiving Ijazas in Tajweed and Hadith narration. From Jordan, he moved to Turkey, where he completed his calligraphy training and studied Fiqh under the guidance of renowned Syrian scholars. Muhammad continues to study privately and has taught the Islamic Sciences for six years. He now resides in Toronto, Canada, where he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Islamic Theology. Sidi Muhammad trained and competed in BJJ and wrestling for ten years in the USA and Jordan.

Private Event
2025-10-11 19:00 - 22:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Conference Room

Purification of the Heart – Men’s Book Club
2025-10-16 18:30 - 20:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join us for a weekly book club and discussion group as we collectively strive to purify our hearts and grow closer to Allah through understanding and treating the spiritual diseases that afflict us all. We will read and reflect on Hamza Yusuf’s translation and commentary of Imam Mawlud’s classical work, Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart.
Each session will cover one chapter, including group discussions and reflections on the diseases of the heart and their cures.
While we encourage consistent attendance for the benefit of shared reflection and continuity, each session is self-contained, and participants are welcome to drop in even if they cannot commit to every week. Sidi Mohammed Kaddoura facilitates this group.
Starts October 16 | Thursdays | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Room 24 | In-person only
Class Schedule: Tracking Chapters: Purification of the Heart– Men’s Book Club

Disclaimer
This book club is intended to stimulate thought and reflection, not to teach deen. It is not a fiqh or aqidah class.

Discussion Group Guidelines

Everyone has something to say; everyone has something to learn.

Shy participants are encouraged to contribute.
Talkative participants are encouraged to listen more.

Confidentiality is essential.

Do not share other participants’ reflections outside the group. It’s okay to say, “someone in my book club made me think about…” but not “so-and-so said…”

Give 70 excuses.

Assume good intentions. If disagreements arise, remember our shared goal is growth. We leave differences in the room and continue with brotherhood outside of it.

Maintain emotional awareness.

The topics we discuss may evoke strong emotions. All participants are expected to remain calm, respectful, and emotionally intelligent. Please avoid getting carried away in conversation. Proper etiquette is required at all times.

Book Purchase
Please purchase the book in advance if you want to follow along. Available at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Purification-Heart-Symptoms-Spiritual-Diseases/dp/1929694156
Zaytuna Bookstore: https://bookstore.zaytuna.edu/products/purificationoftheheart
About the Book
This exploration of Islamic spirituality delves into the psychological diseases and cures of the heart. The causes and practical cures of these diseases are discussed, offering a penetrating glimpse into how Islam deals with spiritual and psychological problems and demonstrating how all people can benefit from these teachings.

Author: Imam Mawlud (translated and with extensive commentary by Hamza Yusuf)

About the Translator
Hamza Yusuf is an American Islamic scholar and co-founder of Zaytuna College, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts college in the United States. He is one of the most influential Islamic educators in the Western world, known for his ability to bridge traditional Islamic scholarship with contemporary issues.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Gathering of the Hearts | Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
2025-10-16 19:30 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi for our monthly in-person and online gathering for women (ages 18+) to commune, reflect, discuss, and gain strength and support from each other.
7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Monthly on Thursdays | Free; no registration required | Conference Room or watch live online at https://mcceastbay.org/live
In this class, we use “Purification of the Heart” and “Foundations of the Spiritual Path” By Sidi Ahmad Zarruq, Translated by Hamza Yusuf. Download the book at HTTP://mcceastbay.org/foundations
Watch past session recordings at https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification
We discuss spirituality, self-development, relevant and contemporary topics, and issues related to Muslim women’s roles and responsibilities in today’s knotted-up world. We also examine “Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart” by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

– More Ustadha Hosai: https://mcceastbay.org/hosai
– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series: (Adults): https://mcceastbay.org/heart-purification
– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series: (Women): https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification
– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series (Teens): https://mcceastbay.org/purification
– ‘Agenda to Change our Condition’ Series: https://mcceastbay.org/agenda
– ‘Modern Muslim Parenting’ Series: https://mcceastbay.org/islamic-parenting

This is a discussion-based group, and participation is not only encouraged, but it is required.
Sorry, no babysitting provided. The in-person option is for women only, or the virtual option so anyone can watch live on:

– YouTube: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– Facebook: https://mcceastbay.org/facebook
– Instagram: https://mcceastbay.org/instagram

About Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi:
Hosai Mojaddidi is the co-founder of mentalhealth4muslims.com, where she advocates for and writes about various mental health-related topics tailored for Muslims. She has served the American-Muslim community for nearly 20 years as an activist, writer/editor, mediator, interfaith organizer, and public speaker, covering a variety of topics, including women’s issues, marriage/family, education, self-development, interfaith bridge-building, spirituality, etc.
In her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, blogging via social media (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), doing arts and crafts, visiting gourmet coffee shops, and exploring the countless beautiful parks, beaches and nature preserves throughout Northern California where she lives with her husband, two sons, and fish named Max.
These monthly sessions are live-streamed and recorded. Watch past Ustadha Hosai recordings at https://mcceastbay.org/hosai
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Attorneys @ Jumu'ah: Free Legal Clinic
2025-10-17 13:30 - 15:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
During the third and fourth Jumu’ah services at MCC, Legal Attorney Erum Choudhry will be providing a free fifteen-minute consultation in the following areas:

Islamic Estate Planning
Immigration: Family-based, employment-based, Citizenship
Bankruptcy: Chapters 7 and 13

Appointments are required to receive a free consultation. No walk-ins will be allowed. Please sign up at mcceastbay.org/legal-clinic
Third Fridays of Each Month | 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | MCC Meeting Room (first office) | Appointment required (no walk-ins); RSVP at mcceastbay.org/legal-clinic
MCC will hold legal clinics on the following days:

2025:

January 17, 2025
Apr 18, 2025
May 22, 2025
Jun 20, 2025
Jul 18, 2025
Aug 22, 2025
Sep 26, 2025
Oct 17, 2025
Nov 21, 2025
Dec 19, 2025

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Erum Choudhry has more than ten years of legal experience. She graduated from Cornell Law School in 2002. She served as a senior attorney/associate with boutique law firms in Silicon Valley and well-established law firms in Northern California. She counsels clients from individuals, families, and startups to Fortune 500 companies, major hospitals, and multinational corporations.
She is committed to helping each client with a personalized solution. She is well equipped with the tools like experience, staff, empathy, and compassion to help communities grapple with boom-bust challenges, whether immigration, bankruptcy, or estate planning matters. She picked these areas of practice because these areas of law allow her to understand her clients, serve the community, and help them enjoy a stress-free life.
She enjoys interacting with her clients and audience. She is a frequent speaker at local community and youth events. She provides pro bono services to underprivileged community members and works with local nonprofit organizations to help immigrants.

CALICO Center Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2025-10-17 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
CALICO Center is the Child Abuse, Listening, Interviewing, and Coordination Center. Their mission is to achieve justice and healing for abused children. CALICO brings together a team of child welfare workers, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, and other professionals to investigate child abuse cases.
Visit their table to learn more about their cause and how you can support them.
———–
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. 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 the MCC Jumu’ah services this month, MCC will invite various local Bay Area DV organizations to table. Our Khutbahs will also focus on raising awareness of domestic violence.

Peace Terrace Academy Tables @ MCC Jumu’ahs
2025-10-17 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Peace Terrace Academy is hosting a fundraising Dinner on October 18th at 5:30 pm at the Fremont Marriott.
Peace Terrace Academy is a private, Islamic PK-8 school in Fremont, CA. They provide a classical education that incorporates both Islamic and Western canons, aiming to cultivate students of wisdom and virtue.

CAIR-SFBA Tables @ MCC Jumu’ahs
2025-10-17 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
CAIR-SFBA is a civil rights non-profit that provides civil rights and immigration services to Muslims. Next Friday, October 17, they will be hosting an immigration clinic at MCC East Bay. If you have questions or would like to register, please visit the CAIR table this Friday.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2025-10-17 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. 17, 2025:

1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Shaykh Faraz Khan delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

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

Ustadh Quran Hodge delivers this sermon at Rosewood Conference Center, 4450 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton

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

Ustadh Quran Hodge delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Hafiz Yaseen Mahmoud delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. at MCC to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible, or please attend the off-site MCC Jumu’ah service, that is, each week at the Rosewood Commons, 4450 Rosewood Dr (Building 5)., Pleasanton. Rosewood is only a five-minute drive from MCC.

Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. The District graciously provides the MCC congregation a limited number of parking space. Please come to the third or fourth Jumuah at MCC to ease up parking congestion or, better yet, attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer from 1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. at Rosewood Center (Building 5): https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Shaykh Faraz: http://mcceastbay.org/faraz
– More Ustadh Quran: https://mcceastbay.org/quran-hodge
– More Hafiz Yaseen: http://mcceastbay.org/yaseen

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

Become a U.S. Citizen | Free CAIR Immigration Clinic @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2025-10-17 14:00 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Are you interested in becoming a U.S. citizen? CAIR-SFBA‘s legal team offers free Citizenship Clinics to support you through every step of the naturalization process, from assessing your eligibility and assisting with fee waivers to completing your application and preparing you for your interview.
Join us at one of our upcoming clinics, and let our team help you on your journey.
CAIR-SFBA Immigration attorneys will be at MCC during the three MCC Jumu’ah (1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 3:40 p.m.) to provide you with free legal assistance with naturalization and fee waiver applications. To become a U.S. citizen, you must be 18 and a legal permanent resident for 5 years (or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.).
Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 | 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | MCC Conference Room | In-person only | Registration required | Register at mcceastbay.org/clinic
If you miss the MCC event, CAIR-SFBA will also have Free Citizenship Clinics:

– 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025 at the Peninsula Muslim Association in Mountain View
– 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, November 7, 2025 at SABA Center in San Jose.

Register here.
If you have an urgent inquiry or are unable to attend the immigration clinic, please call CAIR at (408) 986-9874.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
During this clinic, attorneys will provide:

– Presentation on the citizenship process and eligibility.
– Free legal consultation to determine eligibility.
– Free legal assistance with Naturalization and Fee Waiver applications.
– Interpretation services in Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Urdu, Turkish/Azerbaijani, and Russian.

What to Bring:

– Green Card and Social Security card.
– Passport(s).
– Job history and home addresses for the last five years.
– List of trips abroad in the last five years.
– Family information for all children and spouses (current and former).
– Arrest records, if arrested and/or cited.
– To apply for Fee Waiver or Reduced Fee: Latest tax return and/or proof of public benefits (such as food stamps, cash aid, SSI, etc.)

Questions? event@mcceastbay.org
CAIR-SFBA is hosting several upcoming citizenship clinics. During these events, attorneys will provide free legal assistance with naturalization and fee waiver applications.

Once you have filled out the form a member of our team will send you more information about how to participate in the clinic. If you have an urgent inquiry or are unable to attend the clinic please indicate below or call us at (408) 986-9874.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CITIZENSHIP YOU MUST BE: 18 years of age. And a legal permanent resident for 5 years, or 3 years if married to a U.S. citizen.

Faith, Freedom & Second Chances | Shaykh Rami Nsour, Dr. Rania Awaad & Ustadh Amin
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00
Ninety percent of incarcerated Muslims in the U.S. are converts to the faith, and while seeking to turn a new page in their lives, find the most basic task of getting an Qur’an challenging.
Imprisoned Muslims may embrace sectarian or extremist views; others leave religion altogether. Still others return to crime after release, having found no support from their local Muslim community.
Find out how to support the “Forgotten Ummah” and let’s change this reality together!
Friday, October 17 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Sponsored by MCC East Bay & Tayba Foundation.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
– More talks about prison support: http://mcceastbay.org/incarcerated
– More topics addressing community & social justice issues: http://mcceastbay.org/community
– How MCC supports prisoners in California: http://mcceastbay.org/prison
Schedule

Both programs (Tayba program in Prayer Hall and Dr. Rania in Conference Room) will start at 7 p.m.
Dr. Rania’s halaqa will do Qur’an recitation and dhikr until 7:30 p.m. while we watch and discuss the CBS piece on Tayba Foundation.
Both programs will join in the Prayer Hall from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Amin Ibn Anderson transformed his life during incarceration by connecting with Shaykh Rami Nsour via Tayba Foundation and dedicating himself to Islamic sciences. He earned authorization to teach classical texts in fiqh, hadith, Arabic grammar, and spirituality while also completing diplomas in marketing management and paralegal studies. A certified Alternative Violence Program facilitator, Amin recently produced the first complete English translation and commentary on Matharat al-Qulub and is writing on Isharatul Qaraar. Now released, Sidi Ameen is eager to share his knowledge with others. Sidi Ameen was featured in 2025 in a CBS piece about why thousands convert to Islam in prison each year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufwtRa6l36w
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. Prior to 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.RaniaAwaad
Shaykh Rami Nsour spent several years in Mauritania, where he studied at some of the foremost Islamic Colleges (mahdaras). He is the Co-Founder of the Tayba Foundation, one of the few Muslim organizations in the US serving incarcerated Muslims, providing them much-needed Islamic education, along with essential life skills training and assistance upon re-entry.Learn more about Sheikh Rami at https://www.taybafoundation.org/our-team
Rami Nsour was born in Amman, Jordan, and moved to the United States at 9. During his college years, he attended classes taught by Shuyukh in the San Francisco Bay Area, notably Shaykh Khatri bin Bayba, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna, and Shaykh Hamza Yusuf. With their encouragement, Rami embarked on a journey to Mauritania in 1998. In Mauritania, he studied with some of the greatest scholars of our times, such as his foremost, Shaykh Murabit al Hajj bin Fahfu. He was also blessed to study with Murabit Muhammad al-Amin bin al-Shaykh, Murabit Ahmed Fal bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Abdullah bin Ahmedna, Shaykh Tahir ibn Murabit al Hajj and Shaykh Sa’d Bu among others. Rami completed studies in the subjects of Qu’ran, ‘Aqeedah (Belief), Fiqh (Law), Nahu (grammar), Ihsan (spiritual purification), and adab (manners).He has memorized the final text of Maliki fiqh, Mukhtasar Khalil, and has been granted permission by his Shuyukh to teach. In addition to his extensive study of fiqh, he was afforded the unique opportunity to attend one-on-one sessions with his teachers, where he would engage them in countless hours of discussion on the application of fiqh in general and specifically for those living in the West.Rami has translated traditional Islamic texts from Arabic, including various works on Maliki fiqh and several works of the great Mauritanian scholar Shaykh Muhammad Mawlud, including Birr al-Walidayan (The Rights of Parents), Ishraq al-Qarar (The Spiritual Aspects of Prayer), and the Adab of Sadaqa. He has also translated a versified version of Adab of the Student entitled Iya’ant al Mutafahim (The Assistance of the Student) by Shaykh Muhammad al Hasan as well as the original Taleem al Muta’llim by Shaykh Zarnuji.In addition, Rami has dedicated much of his time to teaching, conducting seminars, and counseling. He has spent much of his time teaching and aiding Muslims in prison and has seen how knowledge unlocks human potential. His students in the prisons have, in turn, taught countless people and invited many people to Islam. He was instrumental in co-founding Dar as-Salaam, a project dedicated to building and supporting a school in Mauritania. Shaykh Rami serves as a Senior Instructor at SeekersHub Global. Rami co-founded the Tayba Foundation, which has a correspondence program for incarcerated Muslim (http://www.taybafoundation.org/). In addition to traditional teaching licenses (ijazah), Rami holds a B.A. in Human Development focusing on Early Childhood. Rami resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, is married, and has two children.
“The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said, “People are ores like the ores of gold and silver. The best in jahiliyya are the best in Islam if they gain fiqh (understanding).”
We should not see in ourselves and others what is immediately apparent but rather look for the potential that can be attained. This potential is unlocked through knowledge of Islam.
About Tayba Foundation
Since 2004, Tayba Foundation has touched the lives of more than 11,000 incarcerated Muslims across the U.S by providing critically needed Islamic education, essential Life Skills training, and Reentry support. Many Tayba students have become leaders and change-makers within their communities, both inside and outside of prison. With every passing year, we strive to reach more men and women behind bars and to improve the quality of our work to create real change in the lives of those we serve.
Faith Identity is More Important Than Ever
During this COVID-19 pandemic, faith has become a critical component for the incarcerated and these Islamic materials are essential items, providing them an identity with their Islamic faith community.
During shelter-in place, the fleeting commodity we have a bit more of is time and this precious resource will be fast fleeting once we go back to a semblance of normalcy. For incarcerated Muslims, time will remain the commodity they can leverage. Help them do that by donating new and used items.
Through this project, we will be supporting the Muslim Chaplains at California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, and Avenal State Prison.
An oft-neglected segment of our community, Muslims prisoners face a host of daily challenges when it comes to practicing their faith. These challenges include the availability of halal food, being able to wear religious head coverings, having access to religious materials, and even praying together.

Studies* have revealed that:

Muslims only comprise about 1% of the U.S. population, but they represent 9% of the prison population.
90% of incarcerated Muslims are converts.
Several prisons ban or severely restrict group religious activities.
Muslim prisoners often have their religious property (such as prayer rugs, beads, and Qur’ans) mishandled or confiscated.

Private Event
2025-10-18 09:00 - 17:00
MCC Conference Room & Sunday School.

Private Event
2025-10-18 14:00 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
MCC Banquet Hall

Meet the MCC Youth Coordinator Event
2025-10-19 13:30 - 15:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Boys & Girls Ages 12-18: Meet MCC’s new Youth Coordinator in a welcoming setting and begin to build familiarity and trust. Youth only event; no parents please.

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Sunday, October 19 | MCC Conference Room | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/meet

Join us for a special youth kickoff event to meet MCC’s new Youth Coordinator! Middle and high school youth are invited for an afternoon of DIY boba, halal snacks, games, and icebreakers.

This is a chance to connect with our new youth coordinator, make new friends, and share your ideas for future youth programming at MCC.

The event is free and open to all youth ages 12-18.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Uroosa Shah

Youth Services Coordinator

Uroosa Shah has served the Muslim community for several years, beginning in her hometown at the Islamic Association of Long Island, where she taught Islamic studies, coordinated youth programs, and served on the education board. Her primary focus was on guiding teens to build lasting bonds with their peers in the Muslim community and providing welcoming spaces that nurture faith and belonging.
Now in the Bay Area, Uroosa continues this work through her role at MCC, with a focus on youth engagement and community building. She is currently pursuing her ʿĀlimah studies to deepen her Islamic knowledge and better serve the community. Uroosa also holds a Master of Science with a concentration in Environmental Health & Safety. She continues to advance her professional career alongside her religious service. Uroosa is passionate about empowering the next generation in their spiritual and personal growth.

(925) 272-8679
uroosa@mcceastbay.org

Schedule a time for chat

AI Product Building Workshop: From Prototype to Production | MCC East Bay AI Program Event
2025-10-19 19:00 - 20:45 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join Wasib Mohammed and Zaheer Khan for an inspiring evening that combines expert insights, student stories, live demos, and interactive discussions to deepen your understanding and engagement with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Whether you’re a beginner curious about AI, a developer, or serious about immersing yourself in the topic, this talk welcomes everyone.
Sunday, Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. to 8:45 pm (Maghrib to Isha) | MCC Conference Room | Join us in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live
We’re running an experimental workshop at MCC East Bay on building AI-native products. This isn’t another “intro to prompting” session—we’re teaching the bridge between traditional product management skills and cutting-edge AI techniques that distinguish products people actually use from impressive demos that fail.
We’ll build a real tool together using YOUR challenges as context, then deploy it and use it immediately for feedback. This demonstrates a key principle: dogfooding—using the tools you build helps you quickly discover what works and what doesn’t. You’ll see how adding context transforms generic AI output into something actually useful, and experience firsthand why iteration matters more than getting it perfect on the first try.
What you’ll learn:
1. Why “context engineering” matters more than prompt engineering
2. The three-phase framework: Discovery → Engineering → Sustained Improvement
3. How to bridge traditional PM skills with frontier AI techniques
4. Live demonstration: watching a generic AI output transform with proper context
5. The biggest failure mode: building high-fidelity prototypes before validating assumptions
6. Why prototypes are <20% of the way to production (and what’s missing)
7. How evals become “living PRDs” for AI products
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Mommy & Me Fall–Winter 2025 Session | MCC's Mommy & Me Program
2025-10-23 10:00 - 11:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
In this five-week 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: 10/23, 10/30, 11/06, 11/13, & 11/20 | Saturday: 11/08 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Conference Room or Prayer Hall | $75 for 5 sessions, or $20 per session | Register at mcceastbay.org/happyhearts
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

Dine For A Cause: iniBurger Giving Back
2025-10-24 - 2025-10-25 | iniBurger
Enjoy delicious burgers while making a difference in your community!
Join us in supporting MCC Sunday School by dining at iniBurger on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25. When you scan the QR code below or use the code “fundraiser” at checkout, iniBurger will donate 20% of your order directly back to MCC Sunday School. Your meal will help fund programs and activities that benefit local students and families — it’s an easy (and tasty!) way to give back.
Dine For A Cause: iniBurger Giving Back

We are excited to announce a special two-day fundraiser with iniBurger in Pleasanton on Friday, October 24th and Saturday, October 25th, valid all day long.
iniBurger will generously donate 20% of all qualifying food and beverage sales back to the MCC Sunday School!. These funds will used to subsidize field trips for our students.

How to Participate & Share the Offer
The best part? This offer can be used by anyone—including your extended family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers! Please share the attached flyer and the details below widely.
1. Dine-In or Takeout at the Store: Scan the flyer code at the register during checkout.
iniBurger location at 4233 Rosewood Drive, Suite 11, Pleasanton, CA 94588.
2. Order Online: use coupon code: ‘fundraiser’
Order online at https://order.iniburger.com/.
Thank you for your continuous support, and we hope you enjoy a tasty meal!
JazakAllah Khair.
MCCSS Admin team
info@mccsundayschool.org
P.S. Remember to share this with everyone you know! The more people who participate, the more we raise for our School.

Islamic Relief USA Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2025-10-24 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Islamic Relief USA is hosting a fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Emerald San Ramon with Dr. Mohamed Subeh, who served in Gaza. The event is called With Love to Sudan, Palestine & Syria. Please visit their table this Friday to support them and purchase the tickets.

Takmil Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2025-10-24 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Teach a Kid Make Individual Life (TAKMIL) is a nonprofit that focuses on out-of-school children in rural Pakistan, providing quality education through technology aligned with national standards to bridge educational gaps and empower marginalized communities.
Takmil California chapter is hosting its annual event on Oct 31st at Mehran restaurant at 7 pm.
Please visit the table this Friday for information regarding the event.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2025-10-24 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. 24, 2025:

1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Dr. Youssef Ismail 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, 4450 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton

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

Ustadh Omar Naisan delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Ustadh Haseeb Sadat delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. at MCC to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible, or please attend the off-site MCC Jumu’ah service, that is, each week at the Rosewood Commons, 4450 Rosewood Dr (Building 5)., Pleasanton. Rosewood is only a five-minute drive from MCC.

Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. The District graciously provides the MCC congregation a limited number of parking space. Please come to the third or fourth Jumuah at MCC to ease up parking congestion or, better yet, attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer from 1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. at Rosewood Center (Building 5): https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Dr. Youssef: https://mcceastbay.org/youssef
– More Ustadh Omar: https://mcceastbay.org/omar
– More Ustadh Haseeb: http://mcceastbay.org/haseeb

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

Career Panel for Teens (After Jumu'ah)
2025-10-24 16:00 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
In our ongoing series to help teens find their career path, this month, we hear from a family therapist, a tech leader, a chemical engineer, and an internal medicine doctor. We meet over pizza and snacks right after the weekly teen Jumu’ah!
After the Friday youth Jumu’ah ends at 4 p.m., please join us for a great career panel to learn about possible careers and get advice, tips, and resources to help you prepare for your future.
4 p.m. to 5 p.m. (right after weekly teen Jumu’ah ends) | Friday, October 24, 2025 | MCC Conference Room | Join in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Whatever your plans after high school, our panel speakers will have something for you! Pizza and snacks will be provided, so join us and come with interest, questions, and a friend. Also, hear from professionals in various careers about what living your faith out in the workplace looks like. Parents and adults are also welcome to join.
This career panel, moderated by a high schooler, aims to inspire our youth and allow them to interact with professionals in various career areas, like doctors, data scientists, engineers, and more! You will hear professionals answer questions about their skills, opportunities, and what excites them about their job—plenty of time for Q&A.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Panelist biographies
Maham Bawaney has a bachelors degree in Data Science and Economics and is a Product Manager at Adobe on their internalecosystem of data management tools. Her role involves strategizing for long term product initiatives while bridging gaps between teams who are building and utilizing internal products. Outside of tech, she has several years of experience with Nonprofit Project Management and entrepreneurship.
Sr. Sheeba Fatima leads a team of expert problem solvers (Product Support Managers) at Google. She helps major companies all over the world make their online and offline payment systems work smoothly, which includes supporting partners who use products like Google Pay and Wallet. She is passionate about two things simplifying complex technical integrations and as a manager, helping her team members learn and grow in their careers.

Santi Chrisanti has a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering and over 15 years of experience in different industries. She is currently leading a team of chemists, materials, and chemical engineers in one of the largest multinational biotech companies. Her team is developing next-generation sequencing technologies. She is broadening her skillset by doing an internal internship in competitive market analysis while also completing a graduate certificate in organization behavior from Harvard extension university.She is blessed with a very patient Quran teacher.

Saba Usmani is a digital marketing analytics leader with over ten years of experience in marketing strategies, executing experimentation, data science, and customer insights in the financial and retail industries. With a computer science and management science education, she transitioned from a career in software development to analytics. She helps business teams utilize prediction models and make data-driven decisions.

Sister Farheen is a California-licensed structural engineer currently working as senior plan review engineer for various Jurisdictions. She holds a Master’s degree in Structural Earthquake Engineering from the State University of New York. She has 10 years of experience as a structural design engineer prior to plan review., Currently, she serves as a Senior Plan Review Engineer, where she reviews plans submitted to the Building Department for permit applications. Her responsibilities include ensuring architectural, structural, and accessibility compliance with current building standards, including California building codes. The primary goal of her work is to ensure structural safety, fire safety, and accessibility compliance of submitted plans prior to issuance of building permits by city.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Friday Night Teen High School Halaqa | Sidi Quran Hodge
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00
Join Ustadh 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 high school boys only—no younger boys are allowed. Each session is capped at 30 teens. Once limited spots are full, please kindly join the waitlist.
The first hour is physical activity in the gym (basketball, flag football, or soccer), and the latter hour is pizza and a teen halaqa with Sidi Quran.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Fridays | October 24, 2025, to May 22, 2026 (with a break in Ramadan 2026) | $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
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Location of Friday evening sessions for high school boys in ‘25 and ‘26:

– October 24, 2025, at Dublin High School
– October 31, 2025, at Dublin High School
– November 7, 2025, at location TBA
– November 14, 2025, at location TBA
– November 21, 2025, at location TBA
– November 28, 2024 (no session)
– December 5, 2025, at location TBA
– December 12, 2025, at location TBA
– December 19, 2025, at location TBA
– December 26, 2024 (no session)
– January 2, 2025 (no session)
– January 9, 2026, at location TBA
– January 16, 2026, at location TBA
– January 23, 2026, at location TBA
– January 30, 2026, at location TBA
– February 6, 2026, at location TBA
– February 13, 2026, at location TBA

– February 20, 2026 (no season in Ramadan)

– February 27, 2026 (no session in Ramadan)– March 6, 2026 (no session)
– March 13, 2026 (no session in Ramadan)
– March 20, 2026 (no session in Ramadan)
– March 27, 2025 (no session) at location TBA
– April 3, 2026, at location TBA
– April 10, 2026, at location TBA
– April 17, 2026, at location TBA
– April 24, 2026, at location TBA
– May 1, 2026, at location TBA
– May 8, 2026, at location TBA
– May 15, 2026, at location TBA
– May 22, 2026, at location TBA

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

The Quran Connection: A Women's Journey Guided by Revelation | The Rahmah Foundation
2025-10-25 11:00 - 18:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join us for an inspiring gathering that will deepen our connection with the Book of Allah, offering reflection, discussion, and practical takeaways for everyday life. Together, we will uncover how revelation shapes faith, resilience, and purpose, and how women throughout history and today continue to draw strength and direction from it.
Whether you seek to strengthen your personal relationship with the Qur’an or to be uplifted in the company of fellow sisters, this journey invites you to engage your heart, mind, and spirit in light of divine guidance.
Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025 | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | MCC Prayer Hall | Sisters Ages 14+ | $45 (in-person) or $30 (virtual) | Register at mcceastbay.org/quran-connection
No babysitting option | Pre-paid lunch provided in the Banquet Hall. Coffee and tea will be served.
The event will not be publicly live-streamed. A link to view the live-stream will be emailed an hour before the event.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a person back from attaining spiritual or educational knowledge within the four walls of the Muslim Community Center. For a financial waiver for this event, please email scholarship@mcceastbay.org.
The Rahmah Foundation and MCC East Bay are sponsors for this event.

– More videos in collaboration with Rahmah Foundation: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/rahmah-foundation

– First Conference “Womanhood Defined”: https://mcceastbay.org/womanhood-retreat

– Second Conference “Womanhood Reimagined”: http://mcceastbay.org/reimagine
– Third Conference “Womanhood Inspired”: http://mcceastbay.org/inspired
– Fourth Conference: “Womanhood Qiyam:” https://youtu.be/ZqwrJQmXhT0 & https://youtu.be/YyC5HYcGi0c
– Fifth Conference: http://mcceastbay.org/reflect

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
About the Speakers
Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Shamira Chothia Ahmed is passionate about educating and empowering Muslim women to reach their highest spiritual potential through acquiring sacred knowledge.
Having graduated as valedictorian from a large public high school, her studies led her — following a brief soul-searching stint at Georgetown University — to seek sacred knowledge from scholars on three continents — Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Ustadha Shamira began her journey in seeking sacred knowledge at the women’s Dar-ul-Uloom Mu’eenal Islam seminary in South Africa, and completed the five-year intensive ‘alima program at Ja’mia Al-Imam Muhammad Zakariyya, one of Britain’s first and most renowned Islamic universities for women. There she was granted ijāzah (authorization) in Sahīh al-Bukhārī, Sahīh al-Muslim, Sunan at-Tirmidhī, Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Sunan an-Nasā’ī, and Sunan Ibn Mājah. Thereafter, she continued her Arabic and Qur’anic studies in Damascus, Syria where she obtained an ijāzah in Tajwīd of the Ḥafṣ recitation from the late eminent Syrian scholar, Shaykh Ḥasan al-Kurdī.
In 2005, Ustadha Shamira taught Hanafi fiqh for women at the Zaytuna Institute in California and since then has taught various Islamic sciences in venues across North America. In 2008, she earned a Master’s Degree in Demographics and Social Analysis from the University of California at Irvine, focusing on the identity formation of the Muslim-American population.
In 2013, Ustadha Shamira specialized in the detailed rulings of menstruation, lochia, and abnormal discharge under the direction of Mufti Abdur Rahman Ibn Yusuf Mangera and assisted in compiling Imam Abu Hanifa’s Al-Fiqh al-Akbar Explained.
Ustadha Shamira is a co-founder of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to disseminating traditional Islamic knowledge by qualified female teachers to Muslim women around the globe.
She is a passionate advocate for natural birth, infusing her natural birth classes with Islamic spirituality since 2009, and has been a qualified lactation counselor since 2011.
Her latest endeavor is her sisters-only YouTube channel catering to women’s educational and spiritual needs through short talks and reminders. Ustadha Shamira resides in sunny, Southern California with her husband and four children.
Ustadha Rania Awaad
Rania Awaad, M.D. is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Muslim Mental Health Lab and Wellness Program and Director of the Diversity Clinic. She pursued her psychiatric residency training at Stanford where she also completed a postdoctoral clinical research fellowship with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Her research and clinical work are focused on the mental health needs of Muslims. Her courses at Stanford range from teaching a pioneering course on Islamic Psychology, instructing medical students and residents on implicit bias and integrating culture and religion into medical care to teaching undergraduate and graduate students the psychology of xenophobia. Her most recent academic publications include an edited volume on “Islamophobia and Psychiatry” (Springer, 2019) and upcoming texts on Islamic Psychology (Routledge, 2020) and Muslim Mental Health. She has also produced a toolkit, fact sheet, CME course, and is now editing a clinical textbook on Muslim mental health for the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Awaad is particularly passionate about uncovering the historical roots of mental health care in the Islamic intellectual heritage. Through her outreach work at Stanford, she is also the Clinical Director of the San Francisco Bay Area branches of the Khalil Center, a spiritual wellness center pioneering the application of traditional Islamic spiritual healing methods to modern clinical psychology. She has been the recipient of several awards and grants for her work. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria and holds certifications (ijaza) in Qur’an, Islamic Law and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Dr. Awaad has also served as the first female Professor of Islamic Law at Zaytuna College, a Muslim Liberal Arts College in Berkeley, CA where she taught courses on Shafi’i Fiqh and Women’s Fiqh and Qur’anic sciences for nearly a decade. In addition, she serves as the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. At Rahmah, she oversees the Murbiyyah spiritual mentoring program for girls. Dr. Awaad is a nationally recognized speaker, award-winning teacher, researcher and author in both the Islamic and medical sciences.
Follow her on I/T: Dr.RaniaAwaad
Ustadha Suzane Derani
Raised in Michigan, Ustadha Suzane began studying the Qur’an at a very young age, all throughout her regular schooling. In 1996, Suzane traveled to Damascus, Syria to pursue Islamic sciences, with studies in Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Shafii Fiqh and Qur’an memorization. She also studied Seerah with the late esteemed Shaykha Samira al Zayid and other Syrian scholars. Suzane felt a deep passion and connection to the Qur’an and later returned to Syria in 1998 to further her Qur’an studies. She holds a degree in the Hafs recitation of the Qur’an from the late esteemed Syrian scholar and Qur’an expert, Shaykh Abul Hasan al-Kurdi. Following her ijaza, she worked toward completing the memorization of the Qur’an at the age of 18. A few years after returning from Syria, Suzane moved to the Bay Area, California and taught tajwid for a brief year at Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, California. There, she also studied under Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir and other local scholars. Suzane also studied Hadith in numerous workshops in the East Bay with Shaykh Samer an-Nas. Suzane has over twenty years experience teaching the memorization of the Qur’an as well as its accompanying sciences, tajweed and tafseer, and continues to teach privately.
Suzane graduated with a B.A. in European and Middle Eastern history, with a focus on secondary education. She is an educator with extensive experience teaching history to high school students in private school. With her traditional training and classical teaching experience, Suzane has taught multi-level individualized and group classes for children, teens and adults. Additionally, she has held motivational workshops for teens and women on how to excel in their Qur’an studies. Suzane released her first Islamic children’s book, The Quran My Best Friend, in the month of Ramadan, 2020. She is currently living in the Bay Area with her family where she home schools her kids along with teaching the Qur’an. She serves as a board member for the Rahmah Foundation. Suzane continues to further her studies in the different sciences of the Qur’an with scholars around the world as well as write books for children and mentor youth throughout the Bay Area.
Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi

Ustadha Hosai is the co-founder of MH4M (http://mentalhealth4muslims.com), established in 2010. For nearly 20 years, she has been actively involved in the Bay Area and southern California Muslim community, working and volunteering for many notable organizations. Learn more about her at http://hosaimojaddidi.com
– More Ustadha Hosai: http://mcceastbay.org/hosai
Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi was born in Afghanistan and moved to the United States with her family at age two. She credits her Islamic journey to the year 1996 when she began attending Islamic classes in Hayward, California. These classes were taught by her teacher and mentor since then; Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.
One of her main areas of focus is to help create a strong sisterhood for the women in the community by leading halaqas (spiritual study circles) and support groups whilst offering individual spiritual counseling and mentoring. She noted that many of the spiritual problems encountered were actually reflective of the deep and complicated mental health issues of the community and would be better served by focusing on mental health. Thus, along with her cousin Dr. Nafisa Sekandari, they co-founded a website called Mental Health 4 Muslims (www.mentalhealth4muslims.com).

Ustadha Mona Elzankaly
Born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in Southern California, Ustadha Mona Elzankaly graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics in 1994.
In 1998 Ustadha Mona began seeking sacred knowledge at the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward CA. She later traveled internationally seeking sacred knowledge. She has studied under many eminent scholars such as Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Shaykh Khatri, Shaykh Abd Allah b. Bayyah, Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi, Shaykh Salik b. Siddina, Imam Zaid Shakir, Habib Umar b. Hafiz, Habib Ali al-Jifri and other scholars from Syria, Yemen and Egypt.
Ustadha Mona obtained different Ijaazahs in Tajwid, different books of hadith, Aqidah, and Maliki Fiqh. In 2008 She completed the four-year Zaytuna Seminary pilot program and received a baccalaureate degree in Islamic Studies. In 2014 she completed a four-year Islamic Shari’a program at al-Azhar University in Cairo Egypt.
Ustadha Mona began teaching in 2002 both privately and publicly. She has taught for Zaytuna Institute, Sisters Deen Intensive, Dar al-Zahra Tarim Yemen, The Rahmah Foundation and Meadows of al-Mustafa. She currently teaches at Nur al-Iman an Islamic studies program for ladies.

– First Conference “Womanhood Defined”: https://mcceastbay.org/womanhood-retreat
– Second Conference “Womanhood Reimagined”: http://mcceastbay.org/reimagine
– Third Conference “Womanhood Inspired”: http://mcceastbay.org/inspired
– Fourth Conference: “Womanhood Qiyam:” https://youtu.be/ZqwrJQmXhT0 & https://youtu.be/YyC5HYcGi0c
– Fifth Conference: http://mcceastbay.org/reflect

Sponsored by The Rahmah Foundation & MCC East Bay.

Private Event
2025-10-26 15:00 - 18:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Prayer Hall & Banquet Hall

Holistic Underground Inc (Alamida Foundation) Tables @ MCC Jumu’ahs
2025-10-31 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Alamida Foundation is a non-profit organization in Oakland, CA that provides Islamic Education and Services for all ages in the SF Bay Area and sustains the underserved community of Uganda.

NARIKA Tables @ MCC Jumu'ah
2025-10-31 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
NARIKA is a grassroots movement org that supports survivors of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), particularly from South Asian and immigrant backgrounds, with culturally responsive and linguistically diverse case management, legal resources, wellness programs & support groups, and economic empowerment workshops. Visit their table this Friday to learn more about their cause and how you can support them.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2025-10-31 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. 31, 2025:

1:30 p.m. to 1:50 p.m.

Ustadh Ibrahim Qureshi delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

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

Sidi Hashim Mir delivers this sermon at Rosewood Conference Center, 4450 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton

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

Hafiz Yaseen Mahmood delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

3:40 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Hafiz Yaseen Mahmood delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 2:30 or 3:40 p.m. at MCC to avoid heavier first-service congestion whenever possible, or please attend the off-site MCC Jumu’ah service, that is, each week at the Rosewood Commons, 4450 Rosewood Dr (Building 5)., Pleasanton. Rosewood is only a five-minute drive from MCC.

Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. The District graciously provides the MCC congregation a limited number of parking space. Please come to the third or fourth Jumuah at MCC to ease up parking congestion or, better yet, attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer from 1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. at Rosewood Center (Building 5): https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Ustadh Ibrahim: https://mcceastbay.org/ibrahim
– More Hafiz Yaseen: http://mcceastbay.org/yaseen

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
