MCC East Bay

Women's Book Club
2021-11-17 10:45 - 12:15, 2021-11-24 10:45 - 12:15, 2021-12-01 10:45 - 12:15 (America/Los_Angeles) | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join our weekly sisters’ virtual & in-person Seerah book club where we have an active discussion, take away lessons for our daily lives, and inshaAllah fall in love with the Prophet ﷺ. We are reading “The Sultan of Hearts Prophet Muhammad ﷺ” by Resit Haylamaz and Fatih Harpci.
RSVP for the live registration link below at mcceastbay.org/bookclub. No RSVP needed to join us in person in the MCC Conference Room (masks and social distancing required)
Event Details:
The discussion will take place every Wednesday from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and in Fall 2021 run from Wednesday, Sept. 29 to Dec. 15 (with a break on Thanksgiving week on Nov. 24). The sessions are hybrid: meaning as in-person & virtual session. No RSVP needed to join in person. For the link to join virtually, please register below.
Ustadha Leila Fakira sends the webinar link to registered attendees after registration.
Book Purchase:
If you wish to follow along with the book, you’ll need to purchase the book. The book is out of print, but can be purchased here:

https://www.antstores.com/search?type=product&q=9781597849425
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1597849421/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_mHaAFb4CRDKX5

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

About the Book
Offering a comprehensive narrative of one of the most fascinating life stories of human history, The Sultan of Hearts is an authoritative work on the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The book relies firmly on canonical Hadith collections and Sirah literature, and is rich with references to many contemporary biographical works such as Al-Maktabatu’s-Sirah, Al-Maktabatu’l-Alfiyah, and Al-Maktabatu’sh-Shamilah.
The Sultan of Hearts presents the life of the Prophet and the events that unfolded during his mission by contextualizing them with Qur’anic revelations.
Analyzing “reasons of revelation” (Asbab al-Nuzul), a method in Tafsir studies, authors portray how every revealed verse of God’s word transformed his society and they reconstruct the biography based on this interaction between the scripture and the events. The book lays bare the role of the Qur’an in the education of the large congregation of the Companions, and with it reveals the kind of teaching and drill that the Messenger of Allah exercised in his close circle.
The developments that preceded and followed the statements of the beloved Prophet are reported extensively in order to point to both the educational aspects of the Qur’an and the role of our noble Prophet in transforming people’s lives. There are also detailed accounts of the spiritual and psychological states of many individuals from those who believed the Prophet and those who did not.

Flu Clinic
2021-11-17 12:00 - 15:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA) will also be offering a free flu shots to anyone ages 2+. Alameda County Health will also be hosting a Covid-19 clinic: https://mcceastbay.org/event/covid-19-clinic
12 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Friday, November 19 | MCC Banquet Hall
No appointment or registration needed. No insurance required. First come, first serve while supplies last.
Sponsored by APPNA Community Health Center of San Francisco Bay Area & MCC East Bay
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Practical Spirituality
2021-11-17 20:00 - 21:00 | Lighthouse Mosque, 620 42nd Street, Oakland, CA, 94609, United States
Are you feeling stuck in your relationship with Allah? Feeling unsure about how to progress spiritually while balancing the hustle and bustle of life?
Join us for a virtual weekly class with Sidi Shahryar Abbasi focused on practical spirituality. Each week, we discuss a topic to help us traverse the spiritual path and ultimately achieve nearness to Allah (SWT). The topics range from how to make intentions, devotions and daily duas (supplications), easy shortcuts to maximize your rewards, the importance of good character, how to balance spirituality as a working professional, and much, much more.
We will primarily be focusing on the text “The Book of Assistance” by the great Saint and Knower of Allah, Imam Abdullah Ibn Alawi Al Haddad.
8 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Wednesdays | Sept. 8 to Summer ’22 (except in Ramadan) | Watch at https://mcceastbay.org/live and watch past series recordings at https://mcceastbay.org/practical

More Sidi Shahryar: https://mcceastbay.org/shahryar
Download Imam Al-Haddad’s “Book of Assistance”: https://mcceastbay.org/assistance
Download Practical Spirituality Resources: https://mcceastbay.org/awraad
Sidi Shahryar’s “Real Talk Series”: https://mcceastbay.org/real-talk
Sidi Shahryar’s “Traits of the Righteous” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/hallmark
Sidi Shahryar’s “Deceptive Desires” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/desires

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Sisterhood Halaqa With Ustadha Hosai
2021-11-18 19:00 - 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 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Last Thursday each month | Free; no registration required | Conference Room or watch live online at https://mcceastbay.org/live
Watch past session recordings at: https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification
We talk about spirituality, self-development, relevant and contemporary topics, as well as issues related to the various roles and responsibilities of Muslim women 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. These sessions are held on the last Thursday each month on:

– Thu, Oct 28, 2021
– Thu, Nov 18, 2021
– Thu, Dec 30, 2021
– Thu, Jan 27, 2022
– Thu, Feb 24, 2022
– Thu, Mar 31, 2022

Sorry, no babysitting provided. In person option is for women only or 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

COVID-19 Clinic
2021-11-19 12:30 - 16:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Alameda County Public Health Department, in collaboration with MCC East Bay, is hosting a public vaccination clinic for ages 12 and up.
*Unfortunately the pediatric vaccine for 5-11 year old’s will not be available for this clinic. Alameda County Health just informed MCC about this and they are working with school districts across the County to host pediatric mobile vaccination clinics and plan to host a mobile vaccination clinic for 5-11 year old’s at MCC in 2022. For our clinic on 11/19 we will be able to vaccinate participants 12+.*
Attendees will receive the Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccine at their preference. Participants must have two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or a single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to achieve maximum effectiveness.

First Dose: Friday, October 29th, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Second Dose: Friday, November 19th, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Pre-registration encouraged but not necessary for an appointment: https://mcceastbay.org/clinic
This vaccination drive is intended to primarily service the unvaccinated and anyone in need of a booster shot. The CDC recommends the vaccine booster only for those who received the Pfizer, Moderna or J&J shot from six months after their last shot.
We will also be offering a parallel flu clinic this Friday: https://mcceastbay.org/event/flu-clinic
A Pfizer booster dose is recommended if you received your second dose at least six months ago, and are:

65 or older, or
18+ who live in long-term care settings, or
18+ who have underlying medical conditions, or
18+ who are at increased risk due to social inequity, or
18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

• I received a second dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at least 6 months ago, AND

• I am age 65 years or older, OR
• I live in a long-term care setting, OR
• I am age 50–64 years and experience social and economic risks that place me at increased risk for COVID-19, OR
• I am age 18-64 and I have one of the following underlying medical conditions:
o Cancer
o Chronic kidney disease
o Chronic lung disease o Dementia or other neurological conditions
o Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
o Down syndrome o Heart conditions
o HIV infection
o Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system)
o Liver disease
o Overweight or obesity (body mass index (BMI) over 25 kg/m2
o Pregnant and recently pregnant (for at least 42 days following end of pregnancy)
o Sickle cell disease or thalassemia
o Smoker, current or former
o Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant
o Stroke or cerebrovascular disease, which affects blood flow to the brain
o Substance use disorder
• I am age 18-64 years and am at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission because of my institutional setting, or because I work as one of the following:
o First responders (healthcare workers, firefighters, police, congregate care staff)
o Education staff (teachers, school staff, daycare workers)
o Food and agriculture workers
o Manufacturing workers
o Corrections workers
o U.S. Postal Service workers
o Public transit workers
o Grocery store workers

A Johnson & Johnson booster dose is recommended if you received your first dose at least 2 months ago, and are 18 or older.
Who is Eligible for a COVID-19 Booster Shot
Certain people are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot, including those who received Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. Eligible individuals may choose which vaccine they receive as a booster dose. CDC’s recommendations now allow for this type of mix and match dosing for booster shots.
For individuals who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series:

65 years and older
Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings
Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions
Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings

For the nearly 15 million people who got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those who are 18 and older and who were vaccinated two or more months ago. Learn more
Additional populations may be recommended to receive a booster shot as more data become available.

Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccines: https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines-faq
National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19: https://isna.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Press-Release-NMCTF-COVID-Vaccines-12.22.2020.pdf
Joint Statement from the National Muslim Task Force on COVID-19: https://isna.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Press-Release-NMTF-Ramadan-Statement-4.6.2021.pdf

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Additional resources

Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (Requires two appointments): Click Here to Read Pfizer Vaccine Fact Sheet
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet (Requires one appointment): Click Here to Read Vaccine Fact Sheet
Booster Fact Sheet: Click here to read
Covid-19 Vaccine Eligibility: Click here to read
Teens Ages 12-17 Vaccination Guide: Click here to read

Outdoor & Indoor Jumu'ahs
2021-11-19 12:30 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For our Jumu’ah services on Friday, November 19, masks are required to attend any MCC service and no RSVP is necessary:

12:30 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. – OUTDOOR ONLY

– Ustadh Feraidoon Mojadedi delivers this sermon.

– Outdoor in canopies in the MCC parking lot. No parallel indoor service offered.
– No social distancing in canopy near Khateeb (shoulder-to-shoulder) for men and for first row for women. All other space requires social distancing.
– Please check Friday afternoon weather forecast and take precautions against cold.

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – INDOOR ONLY

– Shaykh Faraz Khan delivers this sermon

– No social distancing in Prayer Hall (shoulder-to-shoulder). Social distance worship for women in Banquet Hall & men in Conference Room.
– No parallel outdoor service offered.

Whenever possible, please attend 12:30 prayer to avoid heavier second-prayer congestion.
Jumu’ah parking for two services is in the MCC parking lot and the neighboring HP lot. Aerial map at https://mcceastbay.org/hp

– Virtually watch these two sermons: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Ustadh Feraidoon: https://mcceastbay.org/feraidoon
– More Shaykh Faraz: https://mcceastbay.org/faraz

For parents attending with young children indoors, MCC offers a private mothers and fathers room 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 are just past the Banquet Hall doors into the school area.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Alameda County reports COVID-19 cases are still happening.
We are cautiously indoors for the five daily prayers and for one Jumu’ah service. The first Jumu’ah is outdoors in the MCC parking lot, weather permitting. Learn more at https://mcceastbay.org/prayer

Private Event
2021-11-25 19:00 - 21:45 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Conference Room

Outdoor & Indoor Jumu'ahs
2021-11-26 12:30 - 14:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For our Jumu’ah services on Friday, November 26, masks are required to attend any MCC service and no RSVP is necessary:

12:30 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. – OUTDOOR ONLY

– Ustadh Mohammed Asad Ali delivers this sermon.

– Outdoor in canopies in the MCC parking lot. No parallel indoor service offered.
– No social distancing in canopy near Khateeb (shoulder-to-shoulder) for men and for first row for women. All other space requires social distancing.
– Please check Friday afternoon weather forecast and take precautions against cold.
– Please bring your own prayer mat.

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. – INDOOR ONLY

– Ustadh Dr. Ali Ataie delivers this sermon

– No social distancing in Prayer Hall (shoulder-to-shoulder). Social distance worship for women in Banquet Hall & men in Conference Room.
– No parallel outdoor service offered.

Whenever possible, please attend 12:30 prayer to avoid heavier second-prayer congestion.
Jumu’ah parking for two services is in the MCC parking lot and the neighboring HP lot. Aerial map at https://mcceastbay.org/hp

– Virtually watch these two sermons: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Sidi Ataie: https://mcceastbay.org/ataie

For parents attending with young children indoors, MCC offers a private mothers and fathers room 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 are just past the Banquet Hall doors into the school area.
Ustadh Mohammed Asad Ali is a graduate of Jamia al Karam – an institute situated in Retford, Nottinghamshire, under the tutelage of the first man to compose a Tafsir of the Qur’an in the whole of Europe, Shaykh Muhammad Imdad Hussain Pirzada sb.
His journey initially began from home under the guidance of his noble parents whom are both scholars, and have been serving the deen in Sheffield for over twenty years. He began studying at a very young age wherein he completed the memorization of the Quran alongside studying other foundational sciences.
Thereafter, after achieving exceptional GCSEs and A-levels, he left home to spend six years studying the traditional sciences attaining an excellent grounding in all areas, ranging from grammar, logic, rhetoric, Islamic law, philosophy, psychology, etc; all the way to the culmination of studying the art of the issuance of legal rulings.
He then went on to pursue further studies in Cairo, and then travelled to the Blessed City of the Prophet ‎صلى الله عليه وسلم for the same cause. He studied to become a classically trained marriage counsellor and a life-coach, also.
Not only this, but Ustadh has been granted a license to teach, recite and pass on the Holy Quran from teachers in Egypt (Cairo), Saudi (Medina), & Pakistan (Lahore), which also qualifies him as a Qari (expert reciter of the Holy Quran). However, his accomplishments do not conclude at the formal education rather he is adroit in many other areas. He has been a public motivational speaker for the last 5 years and due to his multi-lingual skills, he has successfully been able to deliver lectures and seminars across the globe.
He is very active on social media and aims to create an online platform for those who are unable to/feel uncomfortable to access teachers or their local Imams.
He has taught over 1,000 people the basic fundamentals of the religion (fard `ayn) via his online platform, and currently teaches the classical texts at his institute ‘imdadiyyah’ in his home city of Sheffield.
All this augments his long term goal – to teach, inspire and shape the future generations with the love of this deen!
Ustadh Dr. Ali Ataie is a perennial student and researcher who has been involved in interfaith activities for over two decades. He holds a Masters in biblical studies with a focus on New Testament and biblical languages. He also holds a PhD in cultural and historical studies in religion from the Graduate Theological Union. His doctoral work focused on Muslim hermeneutics of biblical texts, especially the Gospel of John. He lives in San Ramon, CA with his wife Roya and three daughters. Learn more about him at https://zaytuna.edu/academics/faculty/ali-ataie
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Alameda County reports COVID-19 cases are still happening.
We are cautiously indoors for the five daily prayers and for one Jumu’ah service. The first Jumu’ah is outdoors in the MCC parking lot, weather permitting. Learn more at https://mcceastbay.org/prayer

Womanhood Defined Retreat
2021-11-28 11:00 - 17:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
**Watch recording of this retreat at https://mcceastbay.org/womanhood
Cultivate a life based on the four perfect archetypes for woman with a distinguished lineup of Thanksgiving weekend retreat speakers: Dr. Haifaa Younis, Ustadha Anse Sawsan, Dr. Rania Awaad, Dr. Amina Darwish, Ustadha Maryam Amir and Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi.
Sunday, Nov. 28 | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST | MCC Prayer Hall | Women only | $25/in-person (includes lunch) or $10/person (watch live online) | In-person registration closes at 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 27
Register at https://mcceastbay.org/womanhood
Girls ages 12+ welcome to register to attend the retreat.
In-person registration increased to 300 women (from 125). In-person registration closes at 10 p.m. on Sat., Nov. 27. Online option only offered thereafter. No babysitting provided. Lunch provided by Mirchi Cafe Dublin and Falfel Flame Dublin (both HFSAA certified).
The event will not be publicly live-streamed. Public release of the recordings will be at the discretion of every speaker. There’s no guarantee recordings will be released on the media channels for The Jannah Institute, The Rahmah Foundation or MCC East Bay. Please try to attend the program in person or live online. The event is taking place on Pacific Standard Time. The private live event link will be emailed one hour before registration begins.
Seminar guests at “Womanhood Defined: Cultivating A Life Based on The Four Perfect Women” speak on:

Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi on Lady Asiya (ra): “The Faithful, Forbearing and Fearless”
Ustadha Maryam Amir on Maryam (as): “The Power of Submission”
Dr. Rania Awaad on Lady Khadija (ra): “The Great Woman Behind the Greatest Man”
Dr. Amina Darwish on Lady Fatima (ra): “Educator and Stateswoman”
Ustadha Anse Sawsan on comprehensive summary of the role of women in Islam
Dr. Haifaa Younis on contemporary role models: “The Muslim Woman: Who is She?”

We will conclude along with a final comments panel along with questions & answers with the six teachers before congregational Maghrib prayers. Congregational Zuhr, Asr & Maghrib prayers will be lead in the MCC Prayer Hall by a retreat teacher.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a person back from attaining spiritual knowledge. For a financial-based scholarship discount code, please email scholarship@mcceastbay.org
Sponsored by the Jannah Institute, The Rahmah Foundation & MCC East Bay
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
About the Speakers:Dr. Haifaa Younis is an American Board Certified Obstetrician and Gynecologist with roots from Iraq. Her pursuit of Islamic knowledge initiated when she began to study with various Islamic scholars from across the United States while she simultaneously attended individual courses and lectures on subjects including Aqeeda, Fiqh, usual Fiqh, Hadeeth, and Tazkiyah (purification of the soul). From the United States, she moved to Saudi Arabia where she graduated from the Mecca Institute of Islamic Studies (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) and Al-Huda Qur’an Memorization School (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) where she completed the memorization of the Qur’an. She is the founder and Chairman of Jannah Institute and currently teaches seminars on the thematic commentary of various chapters of the Holy Qur’an and their practical relevance in our day-to-day living. Additionally, she offers retreats on key topics that inspire hearts, combining the inner essence of Islam with an outward expression of practice. Dr. Haifaa is passionate about spreading the word of Allah (SBW) and igniting the love of Islam and the Qur’an through her teachings. Learn more about her at https://www.jannahinstitute.com
Ustadha Dr. 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), Islamic Psychology (Routledge, 2020) and an upcoming text on 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
Amina Darwish “Imamina” started as the Associate Dean for Religious and Spiritual Life and Advisor for Muslim Life in February 2021. She previously served as the first full time Muslim Life Coordinator at Columbia University. Dr. Darwish has a decade of professional experience working with Muslim community. She also brings years of experience building and serving in nonprofit organizations. Dr. Darwish brings a unique blend of understanding the different cultures within the Muslim community while staying grounded in traditional Islamic scholarship.
She earned a Ph.D. in Chemical engineering before switching careers to follow her true passion for community building. She remains passionate about including ethics, meaning, and service into STEM disciplines. Dr. Darwish strives to always create a culture or openness and consistent kindness into the communities she serves. She earned ijazas, traditional Islamic studies certifications, from the Qalam and Critical Loyalty seminaries including an ijaza in the ten Qira’at. Dr. Darwish has studied individually under different scholars from different parts of the world and has taught college level coursework on Islam and Muslims.
Ustadha Maryam Amir received her master’s degree in Education from UCLA. She holds a second bachelor’s degree in Islamic Studies through Al-Azhar University. Maryam has studied in Egypt, memorized the Quran and has researched a variety of religious sciences, ranging from Quranic exegesis, Islamic jurisprudence, Prophetic narrations and commentary, women’s rights within Islamic law and more for the past 15 years. She’s featured in a video series on faith produced by goodcast.net called The Maryam Amir Show. She actively hosts women who have memorized Quran from around the world to share their journeys through the #FOREMOTHERS campaign. She is an instructor with SWISS and Hikmah Institutes and has served as a bonus lecturer with AlMaghrib, DiscoverU and more. She has been interviewed for her work by major news outlets including BBC, NPR and CBS. Maryam’s focus in the fields of spiritual connections, identity actualization, social justice and women’s studies have humbled her the opportunity to lecture throughout the United States and the world, including Jerusalem, Mecca, Medina, Stockholm, London, Toronto and more. She holds a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and speaks multiple languages.
Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi is the co-founder of MH4M (www.mentalhealth4muslims.com), a site dedicated to providing mental health related content tailored for the Muslim community. She has served the American-Muslim community for over 20 years as a spiritual advisor, mental health advocate, writer/editor, mediator, interfaith organizer, and public speaker, covering a variety of topics including women’s issues, marriage/family, youth/teen issues, education, self development, interfaith bridge building, spirituality, etc. She currently offers monthly self-development and spiritual wellness classes with MCC East Bay Masjid and she offers regular educational workshops for students and teachers at local Islamic schools. She also offers periodic talks throughout California and nationally for the Muslim community at large on a variety of topics. In her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, blogging via social media, doing arts and crafts, visiting gourmet coffee shops, and exploring the countless beautiful beaches and state parks throughout California where she lives with her husband and two sons.
Learn more about her at http://hosaimojaddidi.com
Ustadha Anse Sawsan Imady learned traditional Islam from her female teachers over 40 years. She has a BA in English literature and a Masters in Education. During her career, she has been a teacher of English and other subjects; as well as an Academic Supervisor, writing curriculum, directing instruction, and training teachers. She was born to a Syrian father and an American mother, bridging those two worlds throughout her life. She has raised five children with her husband of 42 years. Learn more about her at http://www.peacespective.org

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