Women’s Seerah Bookclub (in-person) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2024-02-12 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | CA
Join our weekly sisters’ in-person & virtual Seerah book club, where we have an active discussion, take away lessons for our daily lives, and inshaAllah fall in love with the Prophet ﷺ. We are currently reading from “The Prophetic Narrative” by Samira al-Zayid and will begin reading Volume 2.

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

Event Details:

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

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

Book Purchase:

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

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

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

About the Book

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

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

Author: Samira al-Zayid

Translators: Susan Imady, Tamara Gray, & Randa Mardini

Binding: Softcover

Pages: Vol 1, 570; Vol 2, 558

Publisher: Daybreak Press

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

Women’s Seerah Bookclub (virtual) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2024-02-13 18:30 - 20:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join our weekly sisters’ virtual-only Seerah book club, where we have an active discussion, take away lessons for our daily lives, and inshaAllah fall in love with the Prophet ﷺ. We are currently reading from, “The Prophetic Narrative” by Samira al-Zayid.

RSVP for the live registration link below at https://mcceastbay.org/bookclub. RSVP is needed to join us virtually.

Event Details:

The discussion takes place every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a break in Ramadan ’24.

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

Book Purchase:

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

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

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

About the Book

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

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

Author: Samira al-ZayidTranslators: Susan Imady, Tamara Gray, & Randa MardiniBinding: SoftcoverPages: Vol 1, 570; Vol 2, 558Publisher: Daybreak Press

Questions? bookclub@mcceastbay.org

Virtual Interfaith Chat: "Thou Shalt not Kill"
2024-02-14 17:00 - 18:00 | CA
Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley and MCC co-host a virtual religious chat with Omar Naisan, representing MCC East Bay, and Rabbi Dr. Laurence Milder, representing Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton, on how each faith deals with the reality of war. Nearly all worldwide faith traditions have a version of “thou shalt not kill.” How do we understand this religious mandate?

5 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Wednesday, February 14 | Virtual Zoom chat (not in person) | Join us virtually at mcceastbay.org/interfaith-chat

The Zoom room will open at 4:45 p.m. Virtual presentations will take place from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Optional breakout post-discussion groups will be held from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

– More Brother Omar Nasim: https://mcceastbay.org/omar

– More Rabbi Larry: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/larry

– More MCC interfaith events: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith

– MCC’s interfaith advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

About the PresentersRabbi Laurence Elis Milder, Ph.D., is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He received his B.A. at Brandeis University and was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 1983. Following ordination, he earned a Ph.D. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, where he received a fellowship from the Center for Modern Jewish Studies, a research institute devoted to the social scientific study of American Jewry.

Rabbi Milder has pursued dual careers in the rabbinate and academia. He has served congregations in Indianapolis, IN; Bangor, ME; and Westborough, MA. He also was an assistant professor (of Judaic studies) at the University of Maine and a lecturer at the Bangor Theological Seminary. From July 2011 through June 2013, Rabbi Milder served on the faculty of the American Hebrew Academy in Greensboro, NC, as the Academy’s Reform Rabbi.

Rabbi Milder has been active in civic affairs, interfaith coalitions, and youth work. He has served the Union for Reform Judaism as a regional director in its Social Action and Youth divisions.

Rabbi Milder’s hobby is composing and performing Jewish folk music. His songs are popular in youth groups and summer camps throughout North America. Rabbi Milder is married to Janet Elis Milder. They have three children: Miriam, Avi, and Alex.

Omar Naisan is a Ph.D. student in the Historical & Cultural Studies of Religion program at the Graduate Theological Union. He holds a Master of Arts in New Testament also from the Graduate Theological Union. His published MA thesis is titled “Decrypting the Son of Man Problem: An Inquiry into the Dominant Approaches to the Son of Man Problem and its Conspicuous Application in Mark 8:27-31.” His interests include comparative theology, philology in religious corpora, and historical-critical studies of religious canons.

The mission of Interfaith Interconnect is to enrich, inform, and educate ourselves and others about the great diversity of faiths and cultures in our Valley. The interfaith umbrella group serves the Tri-Valley in the Bay Area.

– More Interfaith Interconnect recordings: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-interconnect– Website: https://interfaithinterconnect.weebly.com/– Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InterfaithInterconnect

The MCC East Bay and the Islamic Center of Livermore are proud congregation members of the Interfaith Interconnect of the Tri-Valley.

– More MCC interfaith events: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith– Sign up for MCC’s periodic community supporter updates: https://mcceastbay.org/community-supporters– MCC’s interfaith community advocacy efforts: https://mcceastbay.org/interfaith-ethos

The Soul's Journey (virtual) | Sidi Shahryar Abbasi
2024-02-14 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
Join Sidi Shahryar Abbasi every Wednesday until Ramadan ’24 at 7 p.m. virtually to dive into the text, The Lives of Man, by Imam Abdallah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad where we understand life’s purpose, through the five stages of our journey to Allah (swt).

Hosted at Lighthouse Mosque. Streamed only on MCC media channels. Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/journey

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

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

Join Sidi Shahryar Abbasi every Wednesday until Ramadan ’24 at 7 p.m. virtually to dive into the text, The Lives of Man, by Imam Abdallah Ibn Alawi Al-Haddad where we understand life’s purpose, through the five stages of our journey to Allah (swt).

Hosted at Lighthouse Mosque. Streamed only on MCC media channels. Watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/journey

https://youtu.be/Lh-6tl3SXDc

Monthly Sisterhood Halaqa | Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
2024-02-15 19:30 - 21:00 | CA
Join Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi for our monthly in-person and online gathering for women (ages 18+) to commune, reflect, discuss, and gain strength and support from each other.

7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Last Thursday each month (Second Thursday this 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

– More Ustadha Hosai: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/hosai

– More events for women: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/women

We talk about spirituality, self-development, relevant and contemporary topics, and issues related to Muslim women’s various roles and responsibilities in today’s knotted-up world. We also examine “Purification of the Heart: Signs, Symptoms, and Cures of the Spiritual Diseases of the Heart” by Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

– More Ustadha Hosai: https://mcceastbay.org/hosai

– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series: (Adults): https://mcceastbay.org/heart-purification

– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series: (Women): https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification

– ‘Purification of the Heart’ Series (Teens): https://mcceastbay.org/purification

– ‘Agenda to Change our Condition’ Series: https://mcceastbay.org/agenda

– ‘Modern Muslim Parenting’ Series: https://mcceastbay.org/islamic-parenting

Sorry, no babysitting is provided. The in-person option is for women only, and the virtual option so anyone can watch live on:

– YouTube: https://mcceastbay.org/live

– Facebook: https://mcceastbay.org/facebook

– Instagram: https://mcceastbay.org/instagram

About Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi:Hosai Mojaddidi is the co-founder of mentalhealth4muslims.com, where she advocates for and writes about various mental health-related topics tailored for Muslims. She has served the American-Muslim community for nearly 20 years as an activist, writer/editor, mediator, interfaith organizer, and public speaker, covering a variety of topics, including women’s issues, marriage/family, education, and 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 at https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification. Watch past Ustadha Hosai recordings at https://mcceastbay.org/hosai

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Dublin Library
2024-02-16 12:30 - 14:50 | CA
For MCC’s four Jumu’ah services on Friday, February 9, 2024:

12:30 p.m. to 12:50 p.m.

– Sidi Shahryar Abbasi delivers this sermon at MCC.

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

– Shaykh Rami Nsour delivers this sermon at MCC.

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

– TBA at the Dublin Library this Friday.

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

– Sidi Shaan Mukhtar delivers the sermon at MCC.

Please attend at 12:30 or 2:30 p.m. to avoid heavier second-service congestion whenever possible. Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. Please come to the first and fourth Jumuah to ease up parking congestion or attend the parallel satellite prayer at 1:40 p.m. at Dublin Library: https://mcceastbay.org/satellite-jumuah-library-update

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

– More Sidi Shahryar: https://mcceastbay.org/shahryar

– More Shaykh Rami: https://mcceastbay.org/rami

– More Sidi Shaan: https://mcceastbay.org/shaan

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

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Peace Terrace Academy Tables @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-02-16 12:30 - 15:00 | CA
Peace Terrace Academy is having its fundraiser on March 2nd and is looking for sponsorships.

Voting Drive @ Three MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-02-16 12:30 - 15:00 | CA
CAIR San Francisco Bay Area will be at MCC for three consecutive Fridays during Jumu’ahs to register voters before the primary elections on March 5th and equip voters to vote in the upcoming election.

CAIR staff and volunteers will be at the three MCC Jumu’ahs on these Fridays: February 2, February 9, and February 16.

– CAIR workshops at MCC: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/cair

From CAIR:

We are excited to announce the launch of our Vote for Justice voter mobilization campaign in preparation for California’s March 5 primary election and the November general election. Together, we will aim to engage the over one million American Muslims residing in our state to raise awareness of and participate in the civic process.

While civic engagement is always important, it is more crucial today than ever.

Watching a genocide unfold live before our eyes in Palestine and a variety of crises and opportunities in our neighborhoods makes this election season critical. Our votes can send a powerful message of support, concern, or opposition to our communities and country’s direction.

Vote for Justice is not just a slogan; it’s a call to action, urging each community member to engage in the most fundamental democratic process: voting. Your vote is your voice, a declaration of your presence, and a testament to the issues that matter to you and the community.

What Does “Vote for Justice” Mean?

Vote for Justice means demanding justice in all aspects of governance, community welfare, and human rights—and voting to uphold these principles. This encompasses areas that are deeply important to our community, including:

Social Justice at Home and Abroad

Foreign policies that support human rights and aid initiatives align international engagement with the principles of social justice.

Policies that address systemic inequalities in housing, employment, and criminal justice to ensure equal opportunities and treatment for all citizens.

Cultural understanding and the celebration of diversity promote a society that respects and values the contributions of all its members.

Economic Justice

Policies that stimulate job growth support small businesses and foster innovation to build a robust and sustainable economy.

Fair taxation and equitable distribution of resources ensure that all individuals have access to the economic opportunities necessary for a secure and prosperous life.

Education Justice

Universal access to quality education ensures that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed.

Adequate funding of all schools to address disparities in educational resources and facilities.

Healthcare Justice

Recognition of healthcare as a fundamental human right and policies that ensure all individuals have access to necessary medical services.

Mental health services’ importance and integration into the healthcare system ensures that psychological well-being is treated with the same urgency as physical health.

Minority and Immigrant Justice

Stringent anti-discrimination laws and strict enforcement protect all individuals from bias and prejudice.

Development of policies that acknowledge and address the specific needs of minority and immigrant communities, fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect.

Fair and humane immigration policies provide clear pathways to citizenship, respecting the dignity and rights of individuals seeking a new life in a new country.

Why Your Vote Matters

Your vote holds the power to influence legislation and shape the positions of elected officials who are guided by their most vocal constituents. So, your vote is a potent tool that can help address the issues that are important to our Muslim community. By voting, you contribute to the voices demanding change and progress at the local, state, and national levels.

Mobilizing for Change

Mobilizing Muslim Voters is more than a tagline. It’s a commitment to empowerment and representation. It’s an acknowledgment that our voices can bring about meaningful change when we stand together. Let’s ensure that the concerns and needs of the Muslim community are heard and addressed.

How You Can Get Involved

Register to Vote: Check your registration status and register to vote at voteforjustice24.com, our new voter mobilization website.

Educate Yourself: Understand the issues at stake and the candidates’ positions. An informed vote is a powerful one.

Spread the Word: Encourage family, friends, and community members to register and vote. Every additional voice amplifies our call for justice.

Participate in Community Initiatives: Volunteer to spend a few hours a week helping to register voters and participate in town halls and forums. Your active participation is key to driving change.

Bring Vote for Justice to Your Community: Are you in leadership in an MSA, involved in a masjid, or do you frequent a popular halal restaurant or store? Email us to coordinate an event or to distribute materials.

Your vote is not just a right; it’s a pillar of our democracy and a direct line to shaping a future that mirrors our Muslim values. As we gear up for the March 5 primary, let’s make our presence felt, and our voices resonate with the power of justice.

Youth Halaqa for High School Boys | Muhammed Constantino
2024-02-16 18:30 - 20:00 | CA
For boys ages 14-18 (strict age limit)! Join us over three Friday nights with Br. Muhammed Constantino to discuss beginner-level deen topics and touch on issues/experiences you currently face or want to discuss. Each session will center on a theme of Prophetic Character.

Friday, Feb 16th – Prophetic Character: Patience

Friday, Feb 23rd – Prophetic Character: Courage

Friday, March 8th – Prophetic Character: Kindness

Fridays, Feb. 16th, Feb. 23rd, March 8th | 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. | MCC Banquet Hall | $10/session | Register at mcceastbay.org/boys-halaqaMCC has a standing policy that financial need should never hold a person back from attending any activity held in the community center. To request a financial waiver, please complete our financial waiver request: HTTP://mcceastbay.org/scholarship

About the FacilitatorMuhammed Constantino is a long-time member of MCC, having grown up in the community. He is passionate about cultivating a proud Muslim identity with the youth, and in particular, encouraging young men to pursue the best possible versions of themselves. He currently works as a Software Engineer and lives in Walnut Creek.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Dr. Rania Awaad’s Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2024-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
Ustadha Dr. Rania Awaad holds a weekly Friday evening women’s gathering about 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 October 6, 2023, to May 24, 2024 | MCC Conference Room | Free; no registration or RSVP required to attend in person | To join virtually, register at https://mcceastbay.org/zoom

– More Dr. Rania: https://mcceastbay.org/rania

– Watch past Dr. Rania’s Friday Evening Halaqa recordings: https://mcceastbay.org/womens-halaqa

– Join Dr. Rania’s WhatsUp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HlHmFFnGbwvCvLl6uGD1C4

The fall session runs from Friday, Oct. 6th to Friday, Dec. 15th, with Thanksgiving Break on Friday, November 24.

After winter break, we continue in the winter from Friday, Jan. 26 to Friday, March 8, with then a break for Ramadan (March 15, 22, 29, April 5 & April 12), and we restart from April 19 to May 24.

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

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

This halaqa is hosted parallel to our girls’ program in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation.

Ustadha Rania AwaadRaised in the U.S., Ustadha Rania Awaad began her formal study of the traditional Islamic sciences when her parents permitted her to travel to Damascus, Syria, at 14. Her desire to continue studying the Deen resulted in multiple trips back to Damascus, interspersed between her high school, college, and medical studies. She was honored to receive 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, and is on the faculty of Zaytuna College, where she teaches courses in Shafi’i fiqh, women’s issues in fiqh and has helped develop and co-direct the Tajweed and Hifz program.

Ustadha Rania is also a medical doctor with a specialty in Psychiatry. She completed her Psychiatric residency and fellowship training at Stanford University, where she is currently on the faculty as a Clinical Instructor in the Stanford Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences department. Her medical interests include addressing mental health care concerns in the Muslim community- particularly that of Muslim women and girls. She has been awarded grants from the NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) to research this topic and has presented her findings at several medical conferences. Other ongoing endeavors include compiling manuscripts addressing female-related mental health and medical issues from a fiqh-oriented perspective. She currently serves as the Director of the Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization that teaches Muslim women and girls traditional Islamic knowledge. In this capacity, she also heads the Murbbiyah Mentoring Program, which trains young women to teach and mentor Muslim girls and teens. Ustadha Rania is both a wife and a mother; she has been counseling and teaching women classes on Tajwid, Shafi’i Fiqh, Ihsan, marriage, and raising children since 1999.

Learn more about Dr. Rania and her work at http://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/research/MuslimMHLab.html

Every Friday evening, the MCC bustles with activity. MCC hosts four halaqas to increase God-consciousness for youth, women, and men.

From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., join Dr. Rania Awaad‘s women’s gathering about navigating contemporary issues. This wide-ranging Muslimah halaqa is in the MCC Conference Room, and the first hour is live-streamed here (watch past sessions at https://mcceastbay.org/halaqa). This halaqa is organized in partnership with The Rahmah Foundation.

American Islam in the 20th Century | Imam Sundiata Rashid
2024-02-16 19:00 - 21:00 | CA
February is Black History Month! Join us as we discuss and illuminate early traditional Black Islamic movements in the U.S. that have provided the shoulders we stand on today.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Friday, February 14 | Free | MCC Prayer Hall | Join us in-person only or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live

This event is sponsored by the Lighthouse Mosque & MCC East Bay.

More Sidi Sundiata: https://mcceastbay.org/sundiata

Talks on race at MCC: https://mcceastbay.org/race

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

More Imam Sundiata: https://mcceastbay.org/sundiata

Sundiata Al Rashid is the Emir (leader) of the Lighthouse Mosque, a thriving community space in North Oakland, California.

Monthly Saturday Dhikr/Support Circle | Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
2024-02-17 10:00 - 11:00 | CA
Join Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi for monthly in-person women-only dhikr circles filled with recitation, reflection, and Salawat.

This monthly Sisters Healing & Du’ah Circle is here to support sisters experiencing grief/loss, marital challenges, parenting challenges, health challenges, caring for elderly parents/loved ones, isolation, etc.

Saturday, Dec. 16 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Conference Room | In-person only | Free; no registration needed

– More Ustadha Hosai: https://mcceastbay.org/hosai

– ‘Purification of the Heart Series: (Women): https://mcceastbay.org/muslimah-purification

– ‘Purification of the Heart Series: (Adults): https://mcceastbay.org/heart-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

Schedule

– Welcome

– Recitation of Ratib al-Shahr wird

– Recitation of Surah Yasin

– Dhikr

– Salawat

– Short reflection (khatira)

After this monthly gathering, MCC hosts a children’s story-time with Khala Sahar: https://mcceastbay.org/storytime

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, and 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.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Private Event
2024-02-17 12:00 - 20:00 | CA
Conference Room & Banquet Hall

Sisters Conference: Ramadan Ready | The Rahmah Foundation
2024-02-18 15:00 - 18:00 | CA
For Sisters Ages 12+! Join Ustadha Mona Elzankaly, Ustadha Leila Fakira, Ustadha Shamira Chothia Ahmed, and Dr. Rania Awaad to learn the Fiqh of Fasting in the Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Maliki schools of thought. Gain practical insights on how to prepare & equip ourselves for Ramadan spiritually and how to maximize the most out of this blessed month.

Sunday, Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. PST | MCC Conference Room | Women & Girls Ages 12+ | In-person & Online | Register at mcceastbay.org/fiqh

No babysitting option | Refreshments will be provided in the Banquet Hall.The event will not be publicly live-streamed.Schedule:

3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – General Session

Break for Asr/Tea

4:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Fiqh Sessions

The Rahmah Foundation and MCC East Bay are sponsors for this event.

– More Getting Ramadan for Ramadan reminders: https://mcceastbay.org/ramadan-ready

– More Ramadan sermons & talks: https://mcceastbay.org/ramadan-reminders

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

MCC has a standing policy that financial need should never prevent a person from attaining spiritual knowledge. For a financial-based scholarship discount code, please email scholarship@mcceastbay.org

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Ustadha Mona ElzankalyBorn 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, and Shaykh Abd Allah. 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 and books of hadith, Aqidah, and Maliki Fiqh. In 2008, she completed the four-year Zaytuna Seminary pilot program and received a baccalaureate 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 an Islamic studies program for ladies at Nur al-Iman.

Ustadha Leila FakiraBorn and raised in the US, Leila Fakira has lived most of her life in California. After an inspiring first trip to the Holy Lands, Leila left her job as a Business Systems Analyst after more than 14 years in accounting to focus more intently on her Islamic Studies and be involved in her children’s education. Allah blessed her with a yearning to learn her deen, and Allah granted her tawfeeq by guiding her to Zaytuna Institute, where she studied Arabic, Shafi’ Fiqh, Shamail, Seerah, and more.

Leila has a strong background in Shafi’ Fiqh and was encouraged to teach by Imam Zaid Shakir, Dr. Rania Awad, and Shaykh Yahya Rhodus after studying Reliance of the Traveler, Fiqh Al-Ibaddat, and Safinat Al-Nijah respectively. She also studied Rislat Al-Jamia’a with Shaykh Abdur Karim Yahya, AbuShuja with Imam Jamal Hysaw, and other Shafii teachers, male and female, online.

Leila studied and completed the Tajweed reading of the Qur’an a few times with Ustadha Noha & Ustadha Aya from Egypt. Also, she did her initial reading of the Qur’an with Ustadha Nawar Taleb-Agha and was permitted to teach basic Qur’an reading & basic tajweed.

Leila has studied Arabic with Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus, Ustadha Aya (from Egypt), and Ustadh Usama Canon, Seerah & Shama’il with Shakyh Yayha Rhodus & Almaqasid, and Tafsir and Inner Sciences Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Yahya Rhodus, and Habib Hussain (online). She continues to study online with various teachers overseas to continue her Arabic studies and Inner Sciences.

Ustadha Shamira Chothia AhmedBorn and raised in California’s Central Valley, Alimah 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. After that, 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.

Shamira is a wife and mother of five children. She is passionate about empowering women in their childbearing years to gain closeness to their Lord through her spiritual birth consultations and virtual doula services.

Ustadha Shamira is a co-founder of the Rahmah Foundation and currently teaches for Nur al-Iman, a full-time girls’ shariah program with Ustadha Mona Elzankaly based in the Bay Area.Ustadha Dr. Rania AwaadRaised in the U.S., Ustadha Rania Awaad began her formal study of the traditional Islamic sciences when her parents permitted her to travel to Damascus, Syria, at 14. Her desire to continue studying the Deen resulted in multiple trips back to Damascus, interspersed between her high school, college, and medical studies. She was honored to receive 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 specializing 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.

– More from Dr. Rania: https://mcceastbay.org/rania – More Dr. Rania’s Friday Evening Halaqas: https://mcceastbay.org/womens-halaqa
