MCC East Bay does not offer one-to-one matrimonial matching. Every four months, MCC hosts a Singles Meet and Greet event with our friends at Half Our Deen Offline.
For advance notice before registration opens for each event, please join our matrimonial interest list at https://mcceastbay.org/wait
Though we cannot help you with one-on-one matchmaking, we recommend contacting these local sisters who are community matchmakers:
Registration for each quarterly session begins one month before the event. Join the wait list above for advance notice as well as the MCC newsletter, which will market the event leading up to the session: https://mcceastbay.org/newsletter
These events break from ineffective speed-dating matrimonial events and traditional match-making. This game-oriented event caters to the need for more creative and effective ways to meet and learn about others. Many premarital and personality questions are incorporated into the event activities to allow for a quick dip into meaningful relationship questions.
We don’t play musical chairs because relationships aren’t based on 3-minute conversations. So, instead, we have exclusive fun games and activities designed specifically for marriage-minded Muslims to help you naturally learn about each other. (Here is a sneak peek into an actual live event)
Filtered
We are the only Muslim organization that filters our applicants and hand-picks every attendee. This allows us to select members most likely to be compatible and helps ensure we have a balanced number of men and women at every event.
Proven
61% of the attendees at our last event found a match. No other single event even comes close to the success of HD Live, so it’s no surprise that about 25% of attendees travel (including flights from outside the state and country) to attend this exclusive event.
Private
Our close-door events are at undisclosed locations because we take privacy very seriously. We believe that the only people that should know you’re attending the event are the people attending the event. In addition, our HD Live app allows you to show interest without the fear of rejection since matches are privately sent at midnight and only if the interest is mutual.
FAQs from MCC
Who can register?
This event is designed for Muslim singles from Northern California to meet privately and casually. Space is limited. Muslims from all states can apply, but priority will be given to singles residing in Northern California, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area. If our single sisters and brothers give positive feedback, MCC intends to cohost matrimonial events bi-annually or quarterly.
Who is the moderator?
Baba Ali, co-founder of Half Our Deen, is an Iranian-born American comedian, game developer, businessman, and actor. He co-founded the revolutionary matchmaking site Half Our Deen, an alternative to the Muslim dating apps we see today. He is also the founder of Ummah Films, a Muslim film company that attempts to provide Halal entertainment to Muslims and non-Muslims. Baba Ali rose to prominence within the online Muslim community with Ummah Films, which discusses various Islamic topics using humor.
Baba Ali has traveled the world doing stand-up to a wide range of Muslim and non-Muslim audiences. He has performed all over the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, performing for audiences as large as 37,000 and all ages. He has been reviewed in The New York Times, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times and featured in seven episodes of DirecTV’s The Fizz News. Ali Ardekani is a video blogger to his viewers, like Baba Ali.
Why is MCC collaborating with Half Our Deen?
Half Our Deen is an expert in the Muslim matching department and has a system that works. Their website and offline match-making events use personality matching to help connect like-minded Muslims and create lasting matches. For the last 11 years, the site has explicitly catered to marriage-minded Muslims and has over 2500+ success stories. Our event is modeled on their successful system.
MCC East Bay is pleased to offer our single community in the Bay Area the ability to use Half Our Deen’s resources to search for a spouse. HOD is unique in its ability to offer personality testing, high privacy standards, and offline events, which we believe will enhance the process for our single Muslims.
Everyone deserves to find true love and happiness in marriage. MCC is privileged to be a part of your life story by helping to facilitate this chance to meet the right person!
How does it work?
- Fill out the brief application telling us about yourself and who you are looking for. We will email you within a few days with the next steps. You must add offline@halfourdeen.com to your contacts to prevent bouncebacks and spam/promotional archiving.
- If your application is accepted, you must register for the event and make a payment to secure your seat.
- The event will take place at a private location near Pleasanton, California. Exact location details will be provided only to accepted attendees before the event.
Questions? offline@halfourdeen.com
I cannot afford the registration fee.
MCC has a standing policy that financial need should not hold a person back from benefiting from any event held in the MCC facility or cosponsored by MCC. To request a discounted or full financial waiver, please visit https://mcceastbay.org/scholarship
Is there an age limit?
There is no age limit. This event is for adults 18+. Your selection for the event depends on attendees in the same range apply for this event.
To increase the chances of successful matches, we use a selection process to ensure quality and compatible candidates are in attendance. The goal is compatibility. For example, if most applicants indicate that the maximum age they are looking for in a spouse is 40, and you are older, your application would not be accepted. However, please don’t let this deter you from applying for our future events, as acceptance criteria change based on who is used for each event.
Is lunch offered?
We will have snacks, coffee, and tea, but we will not have time for a full-fledged meal. Please ensure you have a hearty meal before the event begins at noon.
Will I still receive confirmation of whether I am on the waiting list?
If it is determined that no compatible matches for you will be in attendance at the event, you will be placed on a waiting list. As we receive more applications, the criteria might change, and there will be a chance that you are still invited to the event. We do our best to invite as many matches as possible to increase everyone’s chances of meeting the right person. If you still haven’t heard from us in the weeks leading into the event, no candidates were matching your criteria at this particular event. Please be patient and try again at another MCC matrimonial event (sign up for our newsletter at https://mcceastbay.org/newsletter).
Do I need a HalfOurDeen membership to attend the event?
You do not need a membership with HalfOurDeen to apply for this event; however, accepted applicants must complete their profile on HOD to attend. You will need a profile on HalfOurDeen to participate since a unique online/offline interaction characterizes this singles event. If you’re not already a member of HalfOurDeen, that’s no problem. HalfOurDeen is providing a 90-day free trial membership for all MCC event attendees. Please note that your trial membership ends after 90 days, so you won’t be charged until the 31st. You can cancel right after the event if you choose. One particular advantage is that after meeting individuals at the event, you can learn more about them through their online profiles before connecting. A HOD-free membership will allow you to view the profile of anyone registered with the site. This way, there is no need to exchange personal information at the event, and all follow-up communication can be done safely through the HOD website after the event.
How do you screen applicants?
During the application process, applicants will answer a questionnaire that tells us a little about them and what they are looking for (or not looking for). The answers are then compared to the answers of all other applicants to determine who can attend, increasing the chances of successful matches based on compatibility and personality matching.
Why was my application not accepted?
To increase the chances of successful matches, we use a selection process to ensure quality and compatible candidates are in attendance. The goal is compatibility. For example, if most applicants indicate that the maximum age they are looking for in a spouse is 40, and you are older, your application would not be accepted. However, please don’t let this deter you from applying for our future events, as acceptance criteria change based on who applies for each event.
Can I bring a family member or a friend to the event?
No. This event is specifically tailored to the applicants who apply and are accepted based on the information provided during the application process. Everything from the games played to the seating chart is specific to those who have secured a spot. That is why only those who have applied and been accepted can attend. Moreover, this is a private event, and to protect the privacy of others, only those who have been accepted will be given specific event details that must not be shared with anyone. Please encourage your friends who want to attend to apply! To keep this event as private as possible, the candidates are the only people allowed to attend it. Our committee members will do their best to keep all interactions focused and constantly monitored throughout the event.
What should I do if I haven’t received a confirmation email?
If you have not received a payment submission email after completing your application, we are receiving a high volume of applications and are still processing them. If you still haven’t heard from us by February 28th, no candidates match your criteria at this particular event. If you have any questions about the selection process, please watch this https://youtu.be/NqHiZXhWtcw
How is this event different from other Muslim matrimonial events that have taken place in NorCal?
We are making every effort to ensure that our event is professionally organized and aligns with Islamic principles. Unlike other events, we will thoroughly vet all applicants via a detailed application. This process will ensure that the attendees are serious about marriage and that there are enough attendees of the opposite gender potentially compatible with you and your preferences. We will try our best to have as close to a 50:50 ratio of females to males as possible.
We will have a wide variety of structured activities that will help you get to know the potential in a low-key, pressure-free, and fun way. Our activities will be structured so people of all personality types can easily participate. So whether introverted, extroverted, or somewhere in the middle, you can participate in all the activities quickly—and, more importantly, get to know the potential in the process. You can also have the peace of mind of knowing that no one will have the spotlight on them at any time.
In keeping with Islamic principles, our event will be constantly monitored by chaperones who will ensure that all interactions are professional and focused. They will also be there to help facilitate conversation and answer questions as necessary.
Can I be sure that the information on my application will be kept private?
Absolutely. This is our Amanah (trust), and we will not release your information to anyone without your permission. Your application will only be reviewed by the HOD Offline staff.
I am worried that others might discover I am attending this event. How will the event be kept private?
The only people who know that you will be at the event…are the people at the event (and, of course, the people you tell). The MCC Matrimony Committee or HOD Offline will not inform anyone of your attendance. We are also keeping the event location private. Once you have fully registered and paid, the venue address will only be sent to you. So please do not share the event location with anyone!
Is there a dress code?
Our only dress code is that your clothing must be according to Islamic principles (clothes cannot be revealing, tight, or see-through). Other than that, feel free to express your personality! Remember that you want to protect yourself best while remaining modest and genuine.
I do not wear a headscarf in public. Do I have to wear one to the event?
Although we highly encourage everyone to dress as closely as possible according to Islamic principles, we will not ask that you wear a headscarf, as the event is not in a masjid prayer space. That said, anyone dressed inappropriately will not be allowed to participate in the event.
What precautions are you taking during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Given the social nature of the event, where attendees will meet new people for the first time and eat, we will require masks for the duration of the event.
FAQs from HOD
How is the Offline process different?
We steer clear of the speed-dating approach. The 3 minutes you give to talk to each person is great if you want a 3-hour relationship. But not so much for a life-long commitment. Right from receiving your application, we screen to ensure only the most compatible attend by screening all our applicants. Our events have an even ratio of men to women, giving everyone a fair chance. We break the ice and eliminate awkwardness by engaging people in fun and exciting activities. Since all our attendees are also on HOD Online, the follow-up after the event is relatively simple.
Why do I need a Half Deen membership to attend?
One of the unique features of Half Deen Offline is that everyone can be found at the event on Half Deen Online. You can view their profile online if you find someone interesting and would rather learn more about them before showing interest. No personal information exists because follow-up is done safely through our website after the event. You’ll have access to more than 3,000 active profiles. This way, even if you don’t find your ideal match at the offline event, you still have a great chance of finding them online. Our Offline events are for Members Only! You can become one by going to www.HalfDeen.com
What happens if the event is sold out?
We wish we could accommodate everyone! Due to this event’s increasing popularity, the seats fill fast. We keep the ratio of women to men at 1:1. Due to this, we sometimes have to temporarily halt the registration for the gender ahead until we can level the playing field. We ensure that everyone has an opportunity for a match. Please keep checking the site to see when and where our next event will be.
What criteria do you screen applicants by?
We believe in quality matches. We don’t set the criteria; our applicants do. We review every application carefully and study your criteria for a spouse. We only invite those who meet your criteria, so you have a great shot right from the start. We are the only Muslim organization that filters our applicants to ensure compatibility, increasing your chances of finding “The One.” InshAllah!
Something came up. I cannot make it.
You can claim cancellation and refunds up to two weeks before the event with no conditions. For cancellations and refunds claimed up to one week’s notice, you will be given a refund on the condition of finding an equal replacement to attend the event.
Concerning event planning, no refunds will be given after the one-week conditional cancellation cut-off. Please consider that for every person invited, several interested members turned away to keep good ratios and compatibility. If you missed the event, we cannot refund/transfer or give you credit for the next one. We could not refund you if you attended the event because you did not find your match.
Why is your event venue private?
We care about your privacy. Our event location is kept confidential and revealed only to those who are paid and confirmed. Nobody knows you are at the event except those at the event. We do not accept walk-ups to the event.
Event Safety:
We’re encouraging our attendees and staff to adopt social distancing and sanitization measures to help keep everyone attending as safe as possible. As events are being scheduled again, their status may change due to developing safety policies, but we’ll keep you posted if that’s the case.
- Mask Recommended: We recommend attendees wear a mask during the event and in public areas (exceptions made while seated during snacks)
- Clean Venue: Steps to sanitize surfaces throughout have been taken before the event.
- Social Distancing: The recommended six feet of distance is suggested throughout the event for a safe distance event.
- Temperature Checks: Attendees must submit contactless temperature checks before entering the venue hall.
- Hand Sanitizer Stations: Attendees can access various hand sanitizing stations that will be located throughout the venue.
Before starting this journey, we ask that you put your trust in God to search within your heart and see if MCC’s matrimonial services are right for you.
We encourage you to pray two cycles of voluntary (nafl) prayer and then to read the powerful Istikhirah Dua (Prayer for Guidance) at mcceastbay.org/istikhara
Whoever seeks the counsel of the Creator will not regret it, and whoever seeks the advice of the believers will feel confident about decisions. Allah said in the Qur’an:
“And consult them in the affair. Then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.”
Potential couples are encouraged to read and watch:
- Understand Your Emotional Needs (Via MCC Matrimonial Committee)
- Pre-Nikkah Questionnaire
- “Mahr” – The Marriage Gift”
- General Islamic Marriage Guidelines
- Get Ready Before Getting Married – OnIslam
- “Islamic Marriage Contracts Resource Guide” – Peaceful Families Project
- “Like A Garment by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi”
- “Before You Tie the Knot”
- What Women Need to Know about Men | Shaykh Yasir Qadhi Seminar
- What Men Need to Know about Women | Shaykh Yasir Qadhi Seminar
- Islamic Parenting Talks at the MCC
- Islamic Marriage Talks at the MCC
- Friday Evening Parenting Khatera (Reminder) with Shaykh Rami Nsour
- Modern Muslim Parenting with Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi
- Other Online Platforms: Half Deen, Eternal Garment, and Pious Hearts
- National Muslim matchmaking services: Muslim Matrimony Network & beyondChai
- Method of Istikharah (Nueces Mosque)
- Recommended Questions For Determining Compatability For Marriage – Muslim Matrimony Network
- The Psychology Of Compatibility | The Mel Robbins Show
A Muslim couple poses for wedding photos. Photo by Ramiz Dedaković/Unsplash/Creative Commons
