MCC East Bay

Become a U.S. Citizen | Free CAIR Immigration Clinic @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2025-10-17 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Women's Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa | The Rahmah Foundation
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-31 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

Faith, Freedom & Second Chances | Shaykh Rami Nsour, Dr. Rania Awaad & Ustadh Amin
2025-10-17 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
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 | CA
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

Monthly Mawlid Al Habib | Celebratory Gathering of Salutations on Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ
2025-10-18 18:30 - 20:15 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Connect more with Muhammad (peace be upon him) as we gather on the third Saturday of each month in remembrance and dhikr with Bay Area Munshideens and guest speakers.
During each gathering, Ustadh Tariq Samady will cover a chapter from the text The Kingdom of the Heart by Habib Umar b. Hafiz.
6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. (Maghrib to Isha) | Saturdays | MCC Conference Room | Join us in person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live
Dates for Monthly Family Mawlid at MCC East Bay in 2025

Saturday, January 18, 2025
Saturday, February 15, 2025
No session during Ramadan in March ’25
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Saturday, June 21, 2025
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Saturday, September 20, 2025
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Saturday, November 22, 2025
Saturday, December 20, 2025

– Watch past mawlid celebrations at MCC: http://mcceastbay.org/mawlid
– More Sidi Tareq: https://mcceastbay.org/tariq
– More sessions about the book using the monthly Mawlids, “The Kingdom of the Heart”: http://mcceastbay.org/kingdom
– Purchase “The Kingdom of the Heart” by Habib Umar bin Hafiz: https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Heart-Habib-Umar-Hafiz/dp/173537671X

Sponsored by Circles of Light & MCC East Bay.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
The Mawlid is a joyous expression of the greatest blessing from Allah.
We take this blessed opportunity monthly to remind ourselves of the three sacred rights that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ requires from us, instilling in us a deep sense of respect and reverence.

– Marifah – Recognizing who the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is
– Muhabbah – Loving the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
– Ittiba’ – Obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

The second two (loving and obeying) are not entirely possible without truly recognizing the first, who the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was. This recognition enlightens us and deepens our knowledge of his teachings.

– Past mawlid celebrations at MCC: http://mcceastbay.org/mawlid

About the Book, “The Kingdom of the Heart”
“Within every human being is a Kingdom. The heart is the ruler of this Kingdom, and the rest of the body is its subjects. If the heart rules with justice and excellence, the body will perform good actions, and the Kingdom will flourish. If the heart neglects its duties, the body will disobey Allah, and the entire Kingdom will suffer the consequences. Allah ﷻ made this Kingdom so crucial that through it the eternal and everlasting dominion of the next life is either gained or lost.” The Kingdom of the Heart by Habib ‘Umar Bin Hafiz gives the reader a deeper understanding of the importance of cultivating the spiritual kingdom of the heart. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation of how outward actions have spiritual consequences. Some of the topics covered are: •⁠ ⁠The Tongue & Its Effects •⁠ ⁠Looking at Creation with Love & Mercy •⁠ ⁠The Impact of Shaking Hands •⁠ ⁠Attending to the Ending of Our Lives •⁠ ⁠The Impact of Intention This book uniquely shows the direct correlation between outward actions and the heart, giving us insights into how various actions impact the state of our hearts. Ultimately, it gives us a way to internalize the wisdom and purpose of acts of devotion, resulting in the purification of the heart and nearness to Allah ﷻ.
About the Author
Habib Umar bin Hafiz (Arabic: حبيب عمر بن حفيظ, romanized: Ḥabīb ʿUmar bin Ḥafīẓ; Arabic pronunciation: [ħabiːb ʕumar bin ħafiːðˤ]; born 27 May 1963) is a Yemeni Sunni and Sufi Islamic scholar, teacher, and founder and dean of Dar al-Mustafa Islamic seminary.[3] He is also a Supreme Advisory Council member for the Tabah Foundation in Abu Dhabi.
Ustadh Tariq Samady
Ustadh Tariq Samady is a native of the Bay Area with roots in the ancient city of Kabul. He has been a lifelong seeker of Islamic knowledge, learning from a wide range of Muslim scholars, both local and international. With the blessings of his teachers, he has contributed to various educational programs and gatherings of dhikr.
His research and editing interests span Qur’an and Hadith commentaries, Philology, Spirituality, and Persian Poetry. Tariq is the founder of Circles of Light (حلق النور), a fledgling educational initiative focused on sharing sacred learnings and wisdom for the community’s benefit. He studied Computer Science at California State University—East Bay and has over ten years of experience as a Developer and Analytics QA Engineer.
About Circles of Light
Circles of Light is a fledgling educational initiative focused on sharing sacred learnings and wisdom for the benefit of the community, meant to assist in maximizing Dunya (this life) for our Deen (Faith). He gives wisdom to whomever He wills. Whoever is given wisdom has been given much good. But none pays heed except those with insight. (Quran). We are motivated by the words of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him); the most beloved people to Allah are those most beneficial to the people. (Hadith). We seek to achieve this aim through our in-person educational programs and publications.
Almighty Allah ﷻ directs us in Sūratul Aḥzāb, “Verily, Allah and His Angels send blessings on the Messenger of Allah. You who believe invoke blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.” Our purpose of invoking blessings upon the Beloved ﷺ leads to proximity to Almighty Allah ﷻ by obeying this command while simultaneously fulfilling our rights upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It is crystal clear how vital the invocation of Ṣalawāt is for the believer, and it is a Mercy of Almighty Allah ﷻ for its rewards to be multitudinous. Abundant Ṣalawāt upon the Beloved ﷺ leads to loving him and knowing his beautiful qualities. By that virtue, degrees of purity are realized. From the signs of the people of the Sunnah is sending Ṣalawāt upon him, for the key to all goodness is Ṣalawāt upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

– More Sidi Tariq Samady: http://mcceastbay.org/tariq
– More Tri-Valley and East Bay Mawlid celebrations: https://mcceastbay.org/mawlid
– More about celebrating the Prophet (peace be upon him)’s day of birth: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/innovation-bida-and-celebrating-the-prophets-birthday-mawlid
– More sessions about “The Kingdom of the Heart”: http://mcceastbay.org/kingdom

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

Women’s Seerah Bookclub (in-person & virtual) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2025-10-20 11:00 - 12:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join our weekly sisters’ in-person & virtual Seerah book club, where we have an active discussion, take away lessons for our daily lives, and inshaAllah fall in love with the Prophet ﷺ. This year, we are reading from Our Lady Fatima al-Zahra (R.A.) by Muhammad Abduh Yamani.

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

Event Details:

The in-person & virtual discussion takes place every Monday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a break in Ramadan ’26.

Please register online to receive the link to the WhatsApp thread where all communication and updates will be made.

Book Purchase:

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

https://www.meccabooks.com/products/our-lady-fatima-al-zahra
https://store.celebratemercy.com/products/our-lady-fatima-al-zahra?srsltid=AfmBOoolySfro5MbF50JY0y6f-0yyRMdaGwsDMa2DqstKJWBykrF1Tpa
https://bookshop.rabata.org/search?q=pur+lady&options%5Bprefix%5D=last

For those local in the Bay Area:

Rumi Bookstore
Zaytuna Bookstore

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

About the Book

This book is about the life and virtues of the eminent lady Sayyidatunā Fāṭima al-Zahra ﵂. Through her, with Sayyidunā ‘Alī ﵁, the blessed lineage of her father, the Messenger of God ﷺ, was preserved. She resembled him in every way, and of all people she was the dearest to his heart. She stood with him ﷺ and strove always to serve and aid him, taking care of him after the death of her mother, Sayyidatunā Khadīja ﵂. Fāṭima was brave, strong, forbearing, dutiful, gracious, and protective. She was a loving mother and an inspiring example to her sons, Imams Ḥasan and Ḥusayn ﵁. Fāṭima al-Zahrā ﵂ tells the life story of its subject in a vivid, straightforward manner, linking it to the history of Islam from the early times of tribulation to the establishment of the Dīn and the Community based in al-Madīna. Its style and approach are very suitable for children, as well as for older readers. The author, Dr Muhammad Abduh Yamani (d.1431/2010), who served for several years as Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Information, was a distinguished educationalist, author and businessman, notable also for his piety and philanthropy.

Mommy & Me Fall–Winter 2025 Session | MCC's Mommy & Me Program
2025-10-23 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-30 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

Purification of the Heart – Men’s Book Club
2025-10-23 18:30 - 20:00, 2025-10-30 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 heart diseases and their treatments.
While we encourage consistent attendance for shared reflection and continuity, each session is self-contained, and participants are welcome to drop in even if they cannot commit to attending every week. Sidi Mohammed Kaddoura facilitates this group.
Starts October 16 | Thursdays | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Conference Room | 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

October – 16
Welcome & Book Overview

October – 23
Introduction to Purification

October – 30
Miserliness

November – 06
No Meeting

November – 13
Wantoness

November – 20
Hatred

November – 27
No Meeting – Thanksgiving

December – 04
Iniquity

December – 11
Love of the World

December – 18
Envy

December – 25
No Meeting – Christmas

January – 01
No Meeting – New Year’s Day

January – 08
Blameworthy Modesty

January – 15
Fantasizing

January – 22
Fear of Poverty

January – 29
Ostentation

February – 05
Relying on Other than God

February – 12
Displeasure with Divine Decree

February – 19
No Meeting – Ramadan

February – 26
No Meeting – Ramadan

March – 05
No Meeting – Ramadan

March – 12
No Meeting – Ramadan

March – 19
No Meeting – Ramadan

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, 2025-10-31 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
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 | Hart Middle School | Register at mcceastbay.org/boys
The MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never prevent a family in the East Bay from benefiting from any MCC offering. To request a financial waiver, please complete the application at mcceastbay.org/scholarship
Coach Amir Rashad also leads a Friday Night Elementary & Middle School Boys Halaqa & Hangout:
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 Donlon Elementary School
– November 14, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– November 21, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– November 28, 2024 (no session)
– December 5, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– December 12, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– December 19, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– December 26, 2024 (no session)
– January 2, 2025 (no session)
– January 9, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– January 16, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– January 23, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– January 30, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– February 6, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– February 13, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– 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)
– April 3, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– April 10, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– April 17, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– April 24, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– May 1, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– May 8, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– May 15, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton
– May 22, 2026, at Hart Middle School in Pleasanton

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 addressing community issues, particularly the challenges that 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

Family Movie Night on October 31st!
2025-10-31 16:00 - 18:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Ages 6 & Up: Join us for a cozy, family-friendly movie night on Friday, October 31st. Grab a blanket and enjoy an evening filled with laughter, community connection, and fun.
After the movie, stick around for popcorn, exciting activities, and candy distribution — the perfect way to end the night with smiles all around! We will have Halal Bites of Chichago foodtruck outside as well!
Date & Friday, Oct. 31 | 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Between Asr & Maghrib) | MCC Conference Room | $5/child ($8 at the door) | Register at mcceastbay.org/movie-night
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never prevent a person from attending any community center activity. To request a financial waiver, please complete our financial waiver request: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/scholarship

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Monthly Sisterhood Hike | Sisters in the Outdoors
2025-11-01 08:00 - 11:00 | Sunol Wilderness, 1895 Geary Rd,, Sunol, California, 94586, United States
Join us at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, for a hike at Sunol Wilderness Regional Preserve in Sunol to get to know other sisters in the community and enjoy the great outdoors. No children, please (female teens, okay). Let us know you are coming: https://mcceastbay.org/rsvp
If sisters want to walk around more, they can do it depending on their interest/time. The hike will be canceled if there are not enough RSVPs or depending on the weather.

– When: Saturday, Nov. 1
– Time: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. – Please arrive a little early to park and find the group. The group can wait till 8:15 a.m. and will start the hike. Please be on time, since we cannot hold the group.
– Carpool: We highly recommend carpooling. No carpool is available from MCC for this hike. Carpooling encouraged others on this hike. Please note that cell phone service is not available at the parking lot, so we kindly request that you arrive on time.
– Parking: $5 parking fee. We will meet in the parking lot outside the gate. Please do not go inside the park even if the gate is open. We like to emphasize that there is no cell reception in the parking lot, so please be there on time. We will not break the group to come back to get someone from the parking lot if they are running late.
– Meeting Point: Sunol Visitor Center
– Trail: Little Yosemite
– Distance: 5.8 miles
– Difficulty: Moderate
– Misc: Wear hiking shoes if possible. There will be a small water crossing, and your shoes might get wet. Bring a small breakfast/ Lunch sandwich or something to eat. Carry enough water, a hat, and a light jacket. Please download All Trails map (free version) in case you decide to return in the middle of the hike. This will be very helpful in navigating back to the parking lot.
– RSVP: By Friday, Oct. 31, please let us know you are coming for this hike: https://mcceastbay.org/rsvp

Sr. Aparna Khan and Sr. Sohaila will be leading this hike. If you have trouble finding the group on the day of the hike, please call or text Sr. Aparna at (408) 480-6584 or Sr. Sohaila at (925) 786-7698. Please remember that we cannot hold all the group, so we request you to please be on time.
For future hikes, please subscribe to the MCC newsletter and/or add your phone number to the Women’s Hiking WhatsUp group.
Please wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes, carry a water bottle, a small snack, a hat, sunglasses, and hiking poles if you have one.
Questions? hiking@mcceastbay.org
About this trail:
This loop takes you to Little Yosemite via Camp Ohlone Road, Gear Road, Backpack Road, and McCorkle Trail. You’ll be traveling along Alameda Creek for the first leg of your journey. This route also passes by a spur trail that takes you to several backcountry campsites such as Cathedral, Eagle’s Eyrie, and Sycamore.

Monthly Sisters' Mawlid
2025-11-01 11:00 - 13:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Sisters: Join us monthly for sisters’ Mawlid for a gathering of remembrance and Dhikr.
Connect more with Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as we gather on the fourth Saturday of each month in remembrance and dhikr.
Saturday, Nov. 1 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Pre-K room or Conference Room | In-person only | Free; no RSVP required

Sisters and children welcome. No boys over the age of eight are allowed.
Dates for Monthly Women’s Mawlid at MCC East Bay

– Saturday, November 23, 2024
– Saturday, December 28, 2024
– Saturday, January 25, 2025
– Saturday, February 22, 2025
– No session in Ramadan in March ’25
– Saturday, April 26, 2025
– Saturday, May 31, 2025 (date changed due to Memorial Day weekend)
– Saturday, June 28, 2025
-Saturday, July 26, 2025
-Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
– Saturday, Sep. 27, 2025
– Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
The Mawlid is a joyous expression of the greatest blessing from Allah.
We take this blessed opportunity monthly to remind ourselves of the three sacred rights that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ requires from us, instilling in us a deep sense of respect and reverence.

– Marifah – Recognizing who the Messenger of Allah ﷺ is
– Muhabbah – Loving the Messenger of Allah ﷺ
– Ittiba’ – Obedience to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ

The second two (loving and obeying) are not entirely possible without genuinely recognizing the first – who the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was. This recognition enlightens us and deepens our knowledge of his teachings.
