MCC East Bay

Women’s Seerah Bookclub (in-person & virtual) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2024-12-02 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles)
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 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

Building Healthy Marriages, Relationships, and Homes in Islam | Sidi Shahryar Abbasi
2024-12-04 18:30 - 19:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join us for a new 6-week mini-series on Wednesdays, where we delve into the spiritual and practical aspects of building healthy marriages and relationships according to Islamic teachings. This series is designed to offer insights into creating harmonious homes rooted in Islamic values.

Foundations of Islamic Marriage: Explore the Quranic principles that define marriage as a bond of peace, love, and mercy. Understand the significance of equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibilities between spouses.
Spiritual Harmony in Family Life: Explore how spiritual practices like prayer can enhance marital bonds and create a home filled with tranquility and spiritual growth.
Communication and Conflict Resolution: Learn effective communication strategies inspired by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), emphasizing kindness, patience, and forgiveness as tools for resolving conflicts.
Nurturing Love and Compassion: Discover how to cultivate love that sustains and grows through acts of kindness, empathy, and compassion. Understand the importance of maintaining emotional and physical closeness.
Balancing Rights and Responsibilities: Gain insights into balancing personal rights with responsibilities towards your spouse and family, fostering an environment of mutual support and accountability.

This class is ideal for individuals seeking to strengthen their home environments, marital relationships, or marriage preparation. By integrating Islamic teachings into daily life, participants will learn to build homes that reflect the core values of Islam—peace, love, and unity.
Wednesdays, Starts Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | MCC Conference Room | Join in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live.
– More Sidi Shahryar: https://mcceastbay.org/shahryar
– Sidi Shahryar’s “Building Healthy Relationships” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/harmony
– Sidi Shahryar’s “Purification of the Heart” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/healing
Sidi Shahryar’s “The Soul’s Journey” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/journey
– 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
Sidi Shahryar is an experienced teacher, speaker, mentor, and coach. He is passionate about helping individuals build healthy relationships and cultivate spiritual growth. He provides practical guidance and insights rooted in Islamic teachings, while addressing contemporary challenges faced by Western Muslim. Send him questions at: ask.abu.taha@gmail.com and learn more about him at https://www.tiktok.com/@islamic_spirituality.

*Virtual Only Tonight* Building Healthy Marriages, Relationships, and Homes in Islam | Sidi Shahryar Abbasi
2024-12-04 18:30 - 19:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
*Tonight’s class will be virtual only. Join us at mcceastbay.org/live*

Join us for a new 6-week mini-series on Wednesdays, where we delve into the spiritual and practical aspects of building healthy marriages and relationships according to Islamic teachings. This series is designed to offer insights into creating harmonious homes rooted in Islamic values.

Foundations of Islamic Marriage: Explore the Quranic principles that define marriage as a bond of peace, love, and mercy. Understand the significance of equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibilities between spouses.
Spiritual Harmony in Family Life: Explore how spiritual practices like prayer can enhance marital bonds and create a home filled with tranquility and spiritual growth.
Communication and Conflict Resolution: Learn effective communication strategies inspired by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), emphasizing kindness, patience, and forgiveness as tools for resolving conflicts.
Nurturing Love and Compassion: Discover how to cultivate love that sustains and grows through acts of kindness, empathy, and compassion. Understand the importance of maintaining emotional and physical closeness.
Balancing Rights and Responsibilities: Gain insights into balancing personal rights with responsibilities towards your spouse and family, fostering an environment of mutual support and accountability.

This class is ideal for individuals seeking to strengthen their home environments, marital relationships, or marriage preparation. By integrating Islamic teachings into daily life, participants will learn to build homes that reflect the core values of Islam—peace, love, and unity.
Wednesdays, Starts Nov. 6 | 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | MCC Conference Room | Join in-person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live.
– More Sidi Shahryar: https://mcceastbay.org/shahryar
– Sidi Shahryar’s “Building Healthy Relationships” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/harmony
– Sidi Shahryar’s “Purification of the Heart” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/healing
Sidi Shahryar’s “The Soul’s Journey” Series: https://mcceastbay.org/journey
– 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
Sidi Shahryar is an experienced teacher, speaker, mentor, and coach. He is passionate about helping individuals build healthy relationships and cultivate spiritual growth. He provides practical guidance and insights rooted in Islamic teachings, while addressing contemporary challenges faced by Western Muslim. Send him questions at: ask.abu.taha@gmail.com and learn more about him at https://www.tiktok.com/@islamic_spirituality.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2024-12-06 12:30 - 14:50 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For MCC’s four Jumu’ah services on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024:

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

Hafiz Rehan Chishty delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

12:40 p.m. to 1:10 p.m.

– Ustadh Omar Naisan delivers this sermon at Rosewood Conference Center, 4450 Rosewood Dr., Pleasanton

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

– Dr. Will Caldwell delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.

– Ustadh Mohammed Abdul Baseer delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

*Please attend at 12:30 or 2:30 p.m. at MCC to avoid heavier second-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., Pleasanton. Rosewood is a four-minute drive from MCC.Please note that the former HP lot (now Pleasanton School District) is no longer available to our congregation. Please come to the second or fourth Jumuah to ease up parking congestion or (better yet) attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer at 11:40 p.m. at Rosewood Conference Center: https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Hafiz Rehan: https://mcceastbay.org/rehan
– More Ustadh Omar: https://mcceastbay.org/omar
– More Ustadh Abdul Baseer: https://mcceastbay.org/baseer

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

Peace Terrace Academy (ISEB) @ MCC Jumu'ahs
2024-12-06 12:30 - 15:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Peace Terrace Academy (an Islamic school in Fremont) is holding a fundraising dinner on December 14. Please visit their table this Friday to purchase tickets or purchase online here.

Family Caregiver Peer Support Group | Arzina Ali
2024-12-06 17:00 - 18:15 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Family Caregivers of an Aging Family Member who is 60+: Join us monthly for a peer support group that aims to connect unpaid family caregivers who are caring for an aging adult (60+) where they can share their experience and resources.
Participation is free, and light refreshments will be provided.
Friday, Dec. 6 | 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. | Room 22 | RSVP at mcceastbay.org/caregivers
Dates for 2024/2025:

Friday, Dec. 6
Friday, Jan. 17
Friday, Feb. 21

About the facilitator:
Arzina is a dedicated community member focused on addressing the long-term needs of aging Muslims through strategic partnerships, programming and education, research, and advocacy. Arzina is pursuing an MS in Gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC) and resides in Northern California with her family.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Elementary & Middle School Boys Halaqa & Hangout | Sidi Amin Gharad & Sidi Zeeshan Mukhtar
2024-12-06 19:00 - 20:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Elementary & Middle School Boys (Ages 8-13): Join us weekly in November for a Halaqa and hang-out session to help them make connections and bonds, form a brotherhood, and navigate school and social challenges as they grow into young men.
These sessions aim to craft our next generation of confident, faithful Muslim men. These Halaqas are for only ages 8-13—no younger boys. The sessions are capped at 30 teens. Once limited spots are full, please join the waitlist.
Pizza is included each week.
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Fridays | 12/6, 12/13, & 12/20 (no session on 12/27) | MCC Banquet Hall | $10/week | Register at mcceastbay.org/boys-hangout
Parents must pick up their child(ren) by 8:30 p.m., no later than 9 p.m.
Location of Friday evening sessions for high school boys in ‘25 and ‘26:

– November 21, 2025, at Donlon Elementary School
– November 28, 2024 (no session)
– December 5, 2025, at location TBA
– December 12, 2025, at location TBA
– December 19, 2025, at location TBA
– December 26, 2024 (no session)
– January 2, 2025 (no session)
– January 9, 2026, at location TBA
– January 16, 2026, at location TBA
– January 23, 2026, at location TBA
– January 30, 2026, at location TBA
– February 6, 2026, at location TBA
– February 13, 2026, at location TBA

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

For questions about the Halaqa, please contact Sr. Fouzia Alam at 925-330-4287.
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.
About the halaqa facilitators
Amin Gharad served two terms as President of the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA) and, most recently, Islamic Studies Director at Northstar School, where he also taught boys’ P.E. He has also worked with the Yaqeen Institute on several projects, including curriculum development. In addition to his extensive experience working with and mentoring Muslim youth, he has completed Arabic studies at the Qasid Institute in Amman and studied Islamic sciences with traditional scholars based in Jordan and Turkey.
Sister Fouzia Alam, a mother of three boys, is collaborating to launch the Boys’ Halaqa. She has extensive experience and organized numerous Bay Area enrichment programs.
Azmat Zeeshan Mukhtar is a local father and mentor from our community who enjoys sports and kids. He will organize the activities and bring on some other dads to help volunteer and make this a rewarding activity for our young Muslim boys. Brother Zeeshan Mukhtar has previously led similar sessions at his son’s school, and in the past, he coached flag football for boys at MCC.

Dr. Rania Awaad’s Weekly Friday Evening Halaqa
2024-12-06 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 20, 2024, to February 21, 2025, | 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 Rahmah Foundation’s Holiday Calendar: https://mcceastbay.org/rahmah-calendar

The Fall session runs from Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, to May 23, 2025, with no halaqas on Friday, November 29, December 27, March 7, 14, 21, 28, and April 4), and we restart from April 11, 2025 to May 23, 2025. See calendar.

Free weekly 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 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

Living as a True Muslim: Avoiding the Trap of Hypocrisy | Sidi Shaan Mukhtar & Shaykh Bilal ibn Yusuf
2024-12-06 19:00 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Learn the spiritual habits that define a sincere believer and how to recognize and avoid behaviors that lead to spiritual downfall. This talk with Imam Bilal ibn Yusuf and Sidi Shaan Mukhtar is for everyone, particularly teens and young professionals.
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Friday, December 6 | MCC Prayer Hall | Join us in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
About the Speakers
Imam Bilal ibn Yusuf graduated from the seven-year ʿālimiyyah program at Darussalam Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. He also holds degrees in psychology and political science. He is the Imam of the Islamic Center of Walnut Creek (Darul-Islam Mosque) and is pursuing postgraduate studies in Islamic Law and Islamic Theology.
Sidi Shaan Mukhtar was born in the Bay Area and raised in the MCC community as a small boy. Shaan has actively contributed to establishing high school MSAs and youth halaqas at various San Francisco Bay Area mosques. Shaan holds a BA in Political Science from UC Davis and has pursued a passion for Islamic learning. He attended the Ilm Tree Homeschooling Cooperative during middle school, where he studied Islamic Sciences under Shaykh Rami Nsour. During college, Shaan took a gap year to study Arabic in Jordan. In addition to his formal education, Shaan has studied privately with local Bay Area teachers such as Syed Mubeen Saifullah and Shaykh Tarif Arabi. He currently works in tech and resides in the Bay Area with his wife, where he continues to engage in community-building and engagement.

Women's Weekly Pilates Sessions | Seema Duhan
2024-12-07 08:30 - 10:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
For Sisters Only: Join us for a transformative body and mind experience every Saturday and Sunday morning with a Professional Yoga and Pilates Instructor. Stretch your muscles, shape your body, and relax your mind.
The recommended age is 20+ for Pilates Classes.
Sat. (8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.) & Sun. (8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) | Weekly with a break in Ramadan ‘25 | Conference Room | Max 15 attendees per session | $15/session or $100/monthly | Register at mcceastbay.org/pilates
Pilates Classes
Pilates is based on six principles: breath, concentration, center, control, precision, and flow. It is designed to transform muscles and bones while strengthening the core. Regular practice of Pilates not only reshapes the musculoskeletal system but also helps regulate emotions. This class is highly beneficial for individuals over the age of 20 years. Participants will learn how to control muscle movement and maintain poses while regulating their breathing. Regular Pilates practice increases muscle endurance against daily wear and tear and enhances flexibility. Starting age is 20 years. All props will be provided except the Yoga mat and foam roller.
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

About the Instructor:
Seema Duhan represented her university in athletics at the national level in India. A health enthusiast, she began learning yoga and Pilates a few years ago and, inspired by the transformation in her own body, decided to teach Pilates and stretching to fellow Muslim sisters to promote body awareness. Seema is currently pursuing her Pilates Instructor certification.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Private Event
2024-12-07 12:00 - 15:30
Conference Room
