Women’s Seerah Bookclub (in-person & virtual) | Ustadha Leila Fakira
2025-08-25 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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.

Private Event
2025-08-27 14:00 - 20:00 | CA
MCC Conference Room

Secrets of Divine Love – Men’s Book Club
2025-08-27 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 mindfully open our hearts to Allah’s love for us and our love for Allah. We will read and reflect on A. Helwa’s internationally acclaimed book, Secrets of Divine Love: A Spiritual Journey into the Heart of Islam (Studying Qur’an & Hadith).
Each session will cover one chapter, including group discussions, reflections, and selected exercises from the book.
The first session will be abridged, focusing on the Introduction and the “Reading with an Open Heart” preface. It will also set the stage for the remainder of the series for those planning to attend most or all sessions.
While we encourage consistent attendance for the benefit of shared reflection and continuity, each session is self-contained, and participants are welcome to drop in even if they cannot commit to every week. Sidi Mohammed Kaddoura facilitates this group.
Starts May 14 | Wednesdays | 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Conference Room | In-person only
Class Schedule (Download discussion guide)

Introduction & Reading with an Open Heart
May 14, 2025
Chapter 1 – Allah
May 21, 2025
Chapter 2 – Humanity
May 28, 2025
Chapter 3 – Qur’an
June 4, 2025
Chapter 4 – Islam / Iman / Ihsan
June 11, 2025
Chapter 5 – Tawba
June 18, 2025
Chapter 6 – Shahadah
June 25, 2025
Chapter 7 – Salat
July 2, 2025
Chapter 8 – Zakat
July 9, 2025
Chapter 9 – Ramadan
July 16, 2025
Chapter 10 – Hajj
July 23, 2025
Chapter 11 – Death
July 30, 2025
Chapter 12 – Heaven and Hell
August 6, 2025
Conclusion
August 13, 2025

Disclaimer
This book club is intended to stimulate thought and reflection, not to teach deen. It is not a fiqh or aqidah class. The book contains various concepts and references that may not align with traditional Islamic scholarship.
If you have any questions about what scholars say regarding a topic discussed in the book or during the sessions, we strongly recommend consulting a scholar you know and trust. You may also forward your question to the organizers so we can seek guidance from a qualified scholar and share it with the group.
We approach the book’s abstract ideas as thought experiments and the exercises as opportunities for spiritual reflection, not as a substitute for traditional Islamic scholarship.
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:
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Divine-Love-Spiritual-Journey/dp/1734231203
Audiobook voiced by the author also available.
About the Book
Secrets of Divine Love was written for the longing heart, searching for meaning, hope, or healing. It is for anyone who has felt distant from God or overwhelmed by their imperfections.
This book serves as a guide back to divine peace and surrender. Through the practices and pillars of Islam, A. Helwa invites readers to unlock their spiritual potential and deepen their relationship with Allah. Blending Qur’an verses, Hadith, poetry, psychology, science, and mystical stories, the book offers a heart-based yet intellectually grounded approach to spiritual growth.

Author: A. Helwa
Paperback: 385 pages
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Naulit Publishing House

About the Author
Helwa believes the Divine deeply loves every person. Her popular blog, @quranquotesdaily, began as a personal effort during her Master of Divinity studies and has grown to inspire hundreds of thousands. With over 15 years of experience in Islamic spirituality and writing, she combines traditional sources and personal insight to help readers connect to Divine love in everyday life.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Mommy and Me Fall '25 Session | MCC's Mommy & Me Program
2025-08-28 10:00 - 11:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
In this eight-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: 08/14, 08/21, 08/28, 09/04, 09/11, 09/18, 09/25, 10/02, and Saturday, 09/06 | 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Conference Room | $120 for all 8 sessions, or $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

*Rescheduled* Attorneys @ Jumu'ah: Free Legal Clinic
2025-08-29 13:30 - 15:30 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
*Rescheduled*
During the third and fourth Jumu’ah services at MCC, Legal Attorney Erum Choudhry will be providing a free fifteen-minute consultation in the following areas:

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

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

2025:

January 17, 2025
Apr 18, 2025
May 23, 2025
Jun 20, 2025
Jul 18, 2025
Aug 29, 2025
Sep 19, 2025
Oct 17, 2025
Nov 21, 2025
Dec 19, 2025

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

Maitri Bay Area Tables @ MCC Jumu’ahs
2025-08-29 13:30 - 16:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Maitri is a free, conﬁdential, nonproﬁt organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area that primarily helps families and individuals from South Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives facing domestic violence, emotional abuse, cultural alienation, or family conﬂict.

Visit their table for more information on their free client-based and community programs, including housing, legal advocacy, economic empowerment, outreach and prevention, policy advocacy, and volunteer engagement.

Jumu’ah Services @ MCC & Rosewood
2025-08-29 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, Aug. 29, 2025:

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

Shaykh Talal Ahdab delivers this sermon at MCC East Bay

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

Hafiz Yaseen Mahmood 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.

TBA 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 just 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 third or fourth Jumuah at MCC to ease up parking congestion or, better yet, attend our weekly parallel satellite prayer from 1:40 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. at Rosewood Center (Building 5): https://mcceastbay.org/rosewood

– Virtually watch the three MCC sermons from home: https://mcceastbay.org/live
– More Shaykh Talal: http://mcceastbay.org/talal
– 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

The "Raising Trailblazers" Parenting Workshop | Fouzia Usman
2025-08-29 19:00 - 21:00 | MCC East Bay, 5724 W Las Positas Blvd #300, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, United States
Join us for a transformative parenting workshop led by Fouzia Usman, founder of Muslim Nation Builders, where parents will discover research-backed strategies to help their children develop a strong, positive Muslim identity and embrace their place in the global Ummah.
The “Raising Trailblazers” workshop by Muslim Nation Builders addresses one of the most critical challenges facing Muslim families today: raising children who genuinely love and embrace their Islamic identity rather than seeing it as a burden or source of difference. Following the workshop, we will hold a Q&A session.
Friday, Aug 29, 2025 | 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | MCC Conference Room | Join in person or watch live at mcceastbay.org/live
Parents: Please ask your child to complete this survey prior to the event. We will have dinner for sale during the Family Night.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
This workshop addresses the reality that our children are constantly exposed to images of Muslim suffering globally, leading many to internalize that Muslims are weak or oppressed, despite the historical fact that Muslims were superpowers 85% of the time from the Prophet ﷺ until now. It tackles the modern challenges of raising children who feel proud of their Islamic heritage, offering strategies to transform their identity from feeling like a “minority” to embracing their strength as part of the global Muslim Ummah.
The workshop includes practical advice and activities for families using The Three Framework:

Compassion Before Correction (following the prophetic model)
Identity Through Experience (why children must feel their Islamic heritage, not just learn about it)
Understanding Critical Timing (the developmental window for identity formation).

Parents will learn practical implementation through Character Development via Service, Confidence Building via History, and Community Building via Shared Experiences.
Purpose: To empower parents with evidence-based insights and tools to move beyond conventional “correction-focused” parenting and create lasting identity transformation. To help parents foster an environment where Islamic values are not just taught but experienced, developing children who see their Muslim identity as a source of strength and pride.
What makes it unique? MNB workshops are specially curated to combine Islamic principles with child development research, offering valuable and practical advice to participants. The “Raising Trailblazers” approach stands out by addressing why traditional methods—Islamic schools, weekend programs, lectures—while valuable, often fail to create the deep identity connection our children need. It provides research-backed alternatives that honor both Islamic principles and modern understanding of child development.
It helps lay a foundation to:

Raise children who genuinely love their Islamic identity
Move beyond correction-focused parenting to identity-building approaches
Engage children in meaningful service that strengthens character and Islamic connection
Build confidence through understanding Muslim historical achievements and legacy
Create community connections with like-minded Muslim families
Understand the critical developmental windows for identity formation
Create family cultures where Islamic identity is a source of strength and pride
Build the next generation of Muslim trailblazers who embrace their place in the Ummah

When raising children with a strong Islamic identity, the active participation of both parents is paramount. Attending parenting workshops fosters a united front, ensuring that both mother and father are aligned in their approach to their children’s identity development. It promotes consistent identity-building practices, strengthens the family bond, and underscores the significance of collaboration and mutual support. Just like mothers, fathers play a crucial role in their children’s spiritual and cultural identity formation. By attending the workshop together, parents can provide each other with better support and create a nurturing environment where children thrive in their Islamic identity.
About Fouzia Usman:
Fouzia Usman is a passionate entrepreneur, mother of three, software engineer, and the founder of Ummah Stars and Muslim Nation Builders. Her innovative work in raising Muslim children who excel in both Deen and Dunya was selected among many submissions to be presented at the Prophetic Strategy Summit in Malaysia, where she shared her insights with a global audience of Muslim leaders and educators.
She is a TEDx speaker, published writer (https://muslimmatters.org/2023/05/06/trip-to-turkey/), Certified High Performance Coach (CHPC), certified NLP practitioner, and Positive Discipline Parent Educator. With over 20 years in corporate software engineering, she brings a unique perspective that combines practical methodology with Islamic principles to address modern parenting challenges.
As an ardent visionary, Fouzia has personally guided families through identity-strengthening experiences in Turkey and beyond through her transformative platform, Muslim Nation Builders. She aims to positively impact Muslim families worldwide by helping parents raise children who practice the deen with passion and conviction. Her work is a testament to how one person’s vision and dedication can create a profound impact in the global Muslim community.
For more information, please visit Muslim Nation Builders at https://www.muslimnationbuilders.com
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

– More Islamic parenting workshops: http://mcceastbay.org/parenting
– More talks & lectures about Islamic Homeschooling: http://mcceastbay.org/homeschool
– More Islamic marriage talks & workshops: http://mcceastbay.org/marriage
– More sessions for Muslim teenagers: http://mcceastbay.org/teens
– More sessions for young Muslim children: http://mcceastbay.org/children
– More “My Parents Just Don’t Understand” Series: http://mcceastbay.org/parent-teen

Join us to learn:

Enhanced Parent-Child Relationships: Parents will leave with concrete strategies to foster deeper emotional connections with their children, laying the foundation for effective guidance and influence.
Paradigm Shift in Parenting Approach: Families will understand the difference between “correction-first” and “compassion-first” parenting, learning practical ways to implement the prophetic model in daily interactions.
Clear Action Plan: Each parent will identify specific steps to create identity-strengthening experiences for their children, moving beyond theoretical knowledge to practical implementation.
This workshop serves as a catalyst for parents who sense their current approaches aren’t entirely practical but haven’t known what to do differently. It bridges the gap between loving our children deeply and guiding them effectively toward a strong Islamic identity in an increasingly challenging environment.

Monthly Sisters' Mawlid
2025-08-30 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.
Every fourth Saturday (except for May & Aug ’25) | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Pre-K 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

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.
