MCC East Bay Welcomes You to Ramadan 2023 (1443)!

Join us at MCC this Holy Month to experience what community should feel like.

Ramadan Prayer Times

Taraweeh prayer is nightly after Isha, at 9:15 p.m. (except at 9:30 p.m. in the last two weeks of Ramadan).

  • Iqamah Times See Ramadan Timetable for all prayer times in Ramadan.
  • Recitation Schedule Qari Amar Bellaha will follow this Qur’anic reading schedule in MCC’s Taraweeh prayers, which are streamed live nightly on YouTube & Facebook (please do not pray behind Qari Amar from home). You can watch past Tarawih 2023 prayers here. After Asr each day, Qari Amar also recites one Juz of the Qur’an.
  • Covid Precautions Masks are optional while in the MCC facility. The Prayer Hall space is not socially distant (shoulder-to-shoulder worship). Only if space allows, for sisters wishing to pray at a six-foot distance from another worshiper, please use the prayer space behind MCC offices in the former Banquet Hall and for men please use the Conference Room.
  • Babysitting MCC is providing babysitting this Ramadan on Fridays, Saturdays, and the last odd nights of Ramadan. Please register here.
  • Women’s Lounge: This room is catty-cornered by the Women’s Parent-Child Prayer Hall and is next to the MCC office. This private area with floor cushions is for sisters not taking part in Tarawih and who wish to be in the presence of the Taraweeh prayer.
  • Eid The MCC community will celebrate Eid al-Fitr with three prayer services and an Eid al-Fitr Carnival.

Imam Tahir Anwar also shared this dua compilation to read daily during Ramadan. Here also is a free Ramadan planner.

Invest in Your Local Community This Ramadan

Zakat & Sadaqa

In the past year, the MCC congregation has helped more than 1,000 Zakat-eligible families in our area during the past two years. We are the largest Zakat and Sadaqa local funds distributor in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area. Please donate your Zakat obligation and Sadaqa for us locally and allow us to help care for your deserving neighbors in the Bay Area.

Donate Zakat (Obligatory Charity)
Donate Sadaqa (Optional Charity)

Building Renovations

Our 41,500 sq. foot community center continues to improve with each successive Ramadan with more renovations and facility upgrades to serve you and your family better. Contribute to Building Fund to keep pace with our community’s remarkable growth trajectory and evolving needs.

Donate to the Building Fund

Ramadan Expenses

Help MCC with its added Ramadan facility, staff & security expenses (we ask for $250.00/family or $100.00/person), replenish the honorarium fund for scholars & hafiz you hear at MCC throughout the year and, to help fund the famous annual Tri-Valley Eid Carnival.

Ramadan Expenses

Donations for Missed Ramadan Fasts

Fidya is a donation paid to feed the poor for not making up fasts missed due to a permanent illness or old age. Minimum $5.00/day for each fast missed.

Kaffara is a donation paid to feed the poor when someone deliberately misses or breaks a fast without a valid reason. Minimum $10.00/day for each fast willfully missed.

Donate Fidya ($5/day missed)
Donate Kaffara ($10/day missed)

Sponsor a Ramadan Iftar or Suhoor

“He who breaks another’s fast earns the same reward as the one who fasted, without diminishing the latter’s reward in the slightest” – Tirmidhi

Take advantage of the amazing merits of feeding a fasting person in Ramadan by helping cover all or some early morning and evening meals (Suhoors & Iftars).

Click here to see which meals remain available for sponsorship. Please note in the memo line which meal(s) you are contributing towards when donating.

All Meals Available For Sponsorship
Contribute in General Towards MCC’s Iftar Meal Costs

Fitrah for Your Household

Zakat-ul-Fitr is a mandatory payment for each member of your household (regardless of age) that is given to the needy in our community so that he or she can also enjoy Eid day. We encourage you to pay early in Ramadan to allow us time to distribute to the needy Muslims in the Bay Area well before Eid day. The minimum amount listed is based on the School of Jurisprudence.

Ibn ’Abbas narrated: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) enjoined Zakat-ul-Fitr on the one who fasts (i.e., fasted during the month of Ramadan) to purify him from any indecent act or speech and to provide food for the needy.” [Abu Dawud]

DONATE FITRAH (HANAFI $12/PERSON)
DONATE FITRAH (SHAFI’EE $12/PERSON)

Ramadan Iftars

During Ramadan, experience what community should feel like at any of our community Iftars meals and early-morning suhoor meals in the last ten days.

The MCC is an inclusive space that caters to Muslims from all theological backgrounds, sects, ideologies, and practices. We embrace our diversity and believe a strong community should be built upon this. Bring your roommates, coworkers, family, and friends. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to the community or have been here for years. It’s all part of what makes the MCC special and what will make your Ramadan unforgettable.

We are taking RSVPs for meals to have the right amount of food always available. To sponsor an Iftar or Suhoor, see here.

“Whoever feeds a person breaking his fast will earn the same reward as him without anything being lessened from the reward of the fasting person.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhi 807)

Nightly Singles Iftars

For our single brothers and sisters, please join us every night in Ramadan for an Iftar dinner to break your fast. On Saturdays, the singles Iftar joins the community Iftar. RSVP is required here. Please never hesitate to join. Details here.

Ramadan Week One
Thursday, March 23 to Friday, March 31		 Register here.
Opens Wednesday, March 22
Ramadan Week Two
Sunday, April 2 to Friday, April 7		 Register here.
Opens Sunday, April 2 @ 5 p.m. 
Ramadan Week Three
Sunday, April 9 to Friday, April 14 		 Register here.
Opens Sunday, April 9 @ 5 p.m.
Ramadan Week Four
Sunday, April 16 to Sunday, April 20		 Register here.
Opens Sunday, April 16 @ 5 p.m.

Friday Youth Iftars

For ages 12-18, join us at 6 p.m. each Friday for a pre-Iftar halaqa, dinner, and post-Iftar Islamic trivia with prizes. Capped at 120 youth. No parents allowed. Age restriction and no parent policy enforced.

Free registration is required, and links go active the Friday before each youth Iftar.

Friday, March 24 Hosted by MCC Youth Leaders. Register here.
Friday, March 31 Hosted by MCC Youth Leaders. Register here (link opens on Sunday, April 2 @ 5 p.m.
Friday, April 7 Hosted by MCC Youth Leaders. Register here (link opens on Sunday, April 9 @ 5 p.m.

Saturdays Community Iftars

More than 300 fasting brothers and sisters join us on three Saturdays for our massive free community Iftar. Come join us to pray and break bread in the community.

A $3/person registration is required to have the right amount of food available. Registration link goes active the Saturday before each community Iftar. Please join the waitlist once the Iftar goes full.

Saturday, March 25th Register here on March 22.
Saturday, April 1st Register here (opens Sunday, April 2nd @ 5 p.m.).
Saturday, April 8th Register here (opens Sunday, April 9 @ 5 p.m.).

Sunday Special Cohort Iftars

Each Sunday, MCC hosts an Iftar dinner for special groups in our congregation or community supporters and allies of the MCC to build a more inclusive and welcoming congregation. Registration pending:

Sunday, March 26 Divorced/Widowed Iftar
Sunday, April 9 Special-Need Families
Sunday, April 2 Tri-Valley Interfaith Iftar
Sunday, April 9 Convert Iftar

Youth Events

For our 4 to 12-year-olds, we have weekly Saturday sessions led by Sister Emira Mustafa, where we will make beautiful Ramadan crafts.

For our middle and high school girls & boys (ages 12 to 18), we have weekly iftars & halaqas for three Fridays.

For children of all ages, Children’s Author Aisha Gray Henry will talk about the timeless teachings of Al Ghazali on fasting and charity.

Kids Ramadan Crafts
Youth Iftars
Guarding the Tongue for Children

Sister’s Events

Ustadha Hosai Mojaddidi will hold a women’s only Qur’an/Zikr circle from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. over three Sunday afternoons in Ramadan.

Ustadha Rania Awaad will be hosting two women’s only Qiyams. The first one is on Friday, March 31, and the second one will be on Friday, April 14, from 11:59 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Qur’an/Zikr Circle For Sisters
The Prophet’s Companions Series
Women’s Qiyam

Ramadan Saturday Evening Volunteers

During this blessed time of heightened worship and remembrance of Allah (swt), we are reminded that one of the greatest acts of devotion lies in serving others within our community. We seek the favor of Allah (swt) by dedicating our time and resources to helping those around us.

Anyone over 13+ can help with the Ramadan community Iftars each Saturday when 300+ guests visit MCC. Please help us serve.

Volunteer for Saturday Iftars

Ramadan Green Pledge

The MCC Green Team invites the community to take small steps toward more sustainable practices this Ramadan to elevate our ihsan. Minimize our negative environmental impact through conscious consumption and decreasing waste production! Here are some ways you can make a big difference this Ramadan:

  • Bring a reusable water bottle to tarawih (also available from the MCC office for $10)
  • Use less water during wudu
  • Choose not to use a straw or plastic coffee lid
  • Learn what goes in each bin above and teach other community members

BRING YOUR WATER BOTTLE! MCC will be continuing with our Green Ramadan this year. To cut down on waste, we will not be providing cups. Please bring a reusable water bottle and do your part by helping us properly compost and recycle. MCC refillable bottles are also for sale for $10 each during Jumu’ah, Taraweeh prayer, and Iftars. Take the pledge to live our green deen this Ramadan!

Please take only as much food as you will eat and teach your children to do the same. Bring refillable water bottles and containers to take left-over food from iftar; if you see trash on the ground, get the reward of picking it up and depositing it in the trash or recycling bins.

How to use the Compost, Recycle, and Landfill waste bins this Ramadan


  • Compost

    All food items, paper plates, and cups, napkins


  • Recycle

    Plastic water bottles, cans, cardboard, paper, newspaper, and magazines


  • Landfill

    Thin plastics, plastic utensils, wax-coated items

  • Use a reusable water bottle throughout Ramadan (purchase one in the MCC foyer for $10).
  • Carpool or take the train to the MCC.
  • Reduce the food you expect to consume, so less food is thrown away.
  • Avoid plastic, and recycle if you use it – such as disposable water bottles, straws, and coffee lids.
  • Use less water during wudu

Security

We wish the best to everyone who visits and worships at the MCC. Therefore, we will provide a security presence for the community during Ramadan. We ask that you follow guidelines for Iftar, parking, and Jumu’ah. Everyone can help by following a few pointers:
  • Parents must supervise their kids at all times. If you have children, please keep them with you at all times. The basement is open for prayer so that you may take your small children with you
  • Pray in designated areas only (the Banquet Hall is closed during Taraweeh prayers)
  • Beware of panhandlers and individuals soliciting for non-MCC causes. You can direct them to fill out a Zakat application located outside of the MCC office
  • Do not prop open exterior doors.
  • Report suspicious behavior to the security on hand or email us at info@mcceastbay.org.

Parking

We ask that attendees for Isha and Taraweeh prayers park inside the MCC and the neighboring HP parking lot. Please do not jaywalk across W. Las Positas Blvd. Parking details here.

Babysitting

We offer babysitting this Ramadan on Fridays, Saturdays, and the last odd nights of Ramadan. Please register here.

Girl Scouts Eid Toy Drive

Please help Girl Scouts Troop 30875 support MCC’s Toy Drive for Zakat-eligible families in the Bay Area this Ramadan. Here are the details: https://mcceastbay.org/eid-toy-drive/

Food Drive

MCC continues our Ramadan tradition of collecting for our hungry neighbors in Alameda County. Drop-off times and details at https://mcceastbay.org/pantry

Itikaf

Please visit here.

Eid Carnival

The Fifth Annual MCC Eid Family Fun Carnival is in the MCC parking lot on Saturday, April 29. Details forthcoming.