A coworker/work friend found and visited this center last Friday at lunchtime and told some of us…read moreabout it in case we were interested too since its only a mile from work. Friday is a special and important/holy day for Muslims, like Sunday is for Christians. I was able to go today too, luckily no meetings at that time, so we took our lunch hour late from 115-215pm and were able to catch an Uber and catch most of the khutbah (like a sermon) that is before the prayers, although it was all in Arabic this time (last week he said there was an English translator). And I'd read about the earphones available for translation in these reviews but we got there too late and didnt want to be walking around being disruptive looking for them. It didn't matter though because it was really the experience/community/prayers we were there for. He went in the front door with the males and I followed a lady with a hijab that I saw walking through the parking lot to a rear door. She was nice enough to wave me over, too, and there were clear signs outside as well. I was nervous because I was new, a little late, and this was my first time going to a group prayer tbh. I've visited mosques before in Turkey but not during actual prayer times. I put my scarf on in the parking lot to cover my hair and then took my shoes off and left them at the bottom of the steps with everyone else's, leaving my socks on. The floor was wet, probably from people doing wudu, lol. I went up the stairs and women were sitting facing a gold curtain in the front and also along the walls so I went to the back wall and sat between two women. Nobody stared or made me feel weird just general quick glances like I was new or something, but overall no problem and it seemed like a nice cozy group. Maybe 30 or 35 women and maybe 6 or so little well-behaved girls. The carpet was clean and I think red and green. I didn't need to bring my prayer rug after all, nobody else did. I was self conscious and nervous about when we would get to the prayers part, which lasted about 10 minutes after the khutbah, because I didn't know how it worked and I really don't know mine by heart or without using the salat learning app, but it was fine after all because i saw how everyone does it together in silence except for the man/imam speaking that we can't see in the womens area anyway since we're in a separate room from the men upstairs and behind a curtain/divider. (Sorry for the major run on sentences, I'm typing like I talk rn lol). After the khutbah, everyone got up and squished together in horizontal rows toward the front so i just followed and copied whatever they did. I didn't know why they were shoulder to shoulder tbh but later my coworker explained that was to keep shaytan (satan) out and an act of unity/togetherness. I'd left like a foot of space between me and the young girl next to me but next time I'll know not to do that. Then everyone does the motions together as they're announced and it's a really humbling, peaceful and spiritual feeling, so although we had to rush bc we only had an hour, and I can't speak toward anything else the center offers since our time was limited, I enjoyed the experience overall and will be back. My coworker did mention there are shops that sell halal food etc next to the mosque that he picked up lunch at last time, so that's convenient. The end..

Alhamduallah I was born and raised Muslim. Once I walked inside this misjad everything is different…read morepeople are very rude they keep staring at new people entered the misjad. I did not like they way how they approach me while I'm praying they were supposed to wait for me until I finish. Even if you own the masjid this is the house of Allah not yours. Overall, I would rather to pray in my car but in this misjad

Al Hamdullah MCC is a beautiful place to worship the brothers and Sisters are very warm and…read morefriendly people it hands down very wonderful and warm experience to learn and worship. I'm so grateful the Muslim community at MCC Plesenton. May bless and protect all of the Muslim place of worship. Inshallah

A very bad experience with the operations person who really misled me on the information that was…read moresolicited to me from this center. When I tried to get more information, he was very rude and disrespectful.

These people have services and let small children run around the property at 11pm to 1:30 am. I'm…read morenot sure Allah would be very pleased, they sure aren't very good neighbors.

This place is a beautiful . Extremely kind and knowledgeable people who speak perfect English. If…read moreyou ever wanted to go somewhere to pray and feel welcome with universal brotherhood and sisterhood this is the place. If you need help in any regard they will try to help you. Even if you're Christian or Jewish or Sikh Buddhist or Hindu, any and all religious denominations are welcome. While linguistic data confirms that mosque and mosquito possess distinct etymological roots--the former descending from the Arabic \bm{masjid} (place of prostration) and the latter from the Latin \bm{musca} (fly)--the historical evolution of these terms allows for the possibility of intentional "weaponized phonetics." Although the words originated in different language families, the specific way European languages adapted the Arabic "j" sound into a "k" or "q" sound created a phonetic overlap that could be exploited. During periods of intense religious conflict like the Reconquista or the Crusades, it is historically plausible that Western speakers intentionally leaned into these phonetic similarities to create dehumanizing puns, effectively "shaping" the pronunciation of a borrowed word to mirror that of a common pest. Consequently, even if the word was not technically invented from the word for an insect, its development in the West may have been influenced by a deliberate effort to associate Islamic holy sites with something repulsive, making the term a product of both natural language drift and calculated historical animosity. That's why we say masjid or Islamic center.

Many thanks to the school for their help in raising our kids on the standards of the deen. However,…read moreplease kindly remind the teachers that the Quran is not a song to be sung--Astaghfirullah--but rather tilawa (recitation)!

The best thing about this mosque is that it is open 24/7.When ever I feel lonely I head to the…read moremosque. I love the idea that I can sit their quietly and do my thing. Most of the ladies are respectful and do not pull people's shirts and pants to straighten them although their own clothes are see through . Most of the women do not speak harshly or push and pull during the namaz time. I love the fact that they have extra head covers incase you were coming from work and forgot to keep the headcover after the wash. Most of the women avoid rubbing you in a wrong way .It is better than many mosques in the area. The sermons are very well prepared most of the time and they avoid time filler , redundant and baseless sermons . Most of the people are Americanized so you feel the civic sense of keeping the place clean. Family nights are great. Like all other masjids ,nobody welcomes a single person or a new comer. Like all other mosques there are women groups and they do not welcome you ,You just stay alone in all programs .You really have to find your way on your own to say salam but it does not work because women stay in their own groups. They have very good quality of books in the library .T he bathrooms are well equipped .water fountains everywhere to fill water bottle or to drink. They have classes. It is one of the few mosques where Iam not afraid to enter.

I do not recommend going on Thursdays for the food donations. The food they pick up THEY take by…read morethe box full. After standing in line for sometimes over an hour and watching what was donated go right into their cars you are told you can only pick 1 thing from each table from what is left after the "volunteers " take their boxfuls. I hope someone looks into this non Christian way of helping people in need

As an Interfaith chaplain who served Muslim patients in a nearby hospital, I visited this most…read morewonderful, humble and loving masjid to learn more about Islam and I discovered some very sweet people who are very respectful, open-minded, and a delight to sit with. I attend women's prayers on Friday as much as possible. I have been given good resources to work with patients, and greatly appreciate the time I spent with Tariq, the director and mighty angel of this mosque. He answered many of my questions and introduced me to many people. I value the wisdom and love of this masjid and recommend it highly to anyone seeking to know more about Islam in an open-minded way that celebrates life, community and love.

Very serene, peaceful & spiritual ambiance. What I like is it an all inclusive spiritual place…read morewhere all religions & paths to spiritual enlightenment are respected & discussed. All contributions & funds are used for community development & to run an international class school for poorest of the poor children in deep rural village cluster in Karnataka, India. The Ashrama is run by monks (sanyasis) who do not keep any wealth for themselves. Thanksgiving & Christmas is celebrated with lavish classic Carnatic & Hindustani music recitals followed by vegetarian dinner. A true "Temple" and not a commercial place.

Very peaceful Temple and you feel you are connecting with God when you sit inside the temple and…read moreprey Temple is very nice including Swami and priests who always greet you warmly . They are also helping to build schools for children in Southern India Even though I am not visiting the temple regularly but I visited the temple since last 15 yrs when I want a peace and want to connect spiritually with the God

We are visiting Oakland Bahai 6/24/07. Stay tuned for our…read morereview. We called Friday afternoon, but no-one called us back. Sunday morning we went to the prayer service at 9:30. We were one of the first to arrive. Finally received a call back the following Tuesday. We were only two of 5 people at this gathering, but were made to feel welcome. The service started late, 9:45, but was relatively short and paced well. Opening with a series of bangs on a gong, the leader engaged my son and asked him to bang the gong for him. My son, ecstatic to be included in this new adventure, followed the directions of the leader, hitting the gong, 1,2, 3, 4, then five times followed by a series of side swipes and side hits. Members took turns sharing prayers from Bahai and other religious traditions, interspursing them with silence and contemplation - several musical pieces were shared from a boom box too. After service, fruit, cookies and juice were served and I talked with one woman about the Bay Area Bahai community. She encouraged me to attend the Albany Bahai services the next weekend, stating the large community of children that attend that service. My son enjoyed this low key gathering and felt comfortable with everyone he met.

Growing up as a kid in East Oakland, I used to frequent this place back in the 80's. I can't say…read morehow it is now, but it brings back fond memories!

I work for a youth non-profit that refers kids to Axis for their youth classes. The families we…read morehave sent there have had RAVE reviews about their experience. AXIS is extremely welcoming, inclusive, and community-minded. We love AXIS and are so thankful for the opportunities they have given to our families!!!!