Masjid Omar al- Farooq

Salam Alaikum,
Last Friday was my first Jomoa at this mosque. The khotba started at 1PM, I got there at 1:30PM. I parked in the small parking lot next to it, I was surprised there were still empty spots, but it was actually packed at the end. I liked the imam and found his khotba about the first 10 days of Dhu El-​Hija very helpful and instructive even though most of the time he used an unknown language to me! Anyways, after the end of the prayer and coming out to the parking, I was heading back to work, I found my car blocked by 3 cars, all parking in the driveway between the two parking lines! I couldn’t believe it, why don’t they park the same way in other places hem!!! I thought those people would make it quick and come out as soon as they are done praying, surprisingly they didn’t! Then here they come, all women, still chatting going back and forth, acting like they don’t know what’s going on! I came out of my car and asked them nicely to move their cars and to not park that way next time. A young woman replied with:” You are a young guy, you need to park in the street.” I was shocked by the response instead of apologizing! An old man, who was talking to them, even tried to make up an excuse by saying it’s a women parking! My mind almost blow up! He just made a lie after praying jomoa! yeh, of course, I responded to these nonsense excuses but in a very respectful way. But like it wasn’t enough, a young guy standing by, I am not even sure what he was waiting for, telling me to show some respect and chill!!! This was the best! Really, was I disrespectful by pointing these people to their wrong doings and nonsense excuses, including his excuses as well! Was I just supposed to wait quietly and shut my mouth up! Is this what he means by respect! There was only one woman who agreed with me because she was also blocked too, she was there even before I came out but she didn’t speak up, probably because I suppose she knows the mentality! Honestly, I am really hesitating to go back there even though there is no other mosque next to my place. I rather pray home in peace than deal with this type of people/​mentalities. I hope this was just one of those days and not always like this! If you go, I suggest not to park in that small parking lot, at least the day of Jomoa, even if you find a spot. Park in the street to keep your day peaceful!
Salam & Peace.

So I had a job that miracles of miracles ended every friday early at 12:30pm. perfect to go to Jummah– slight problem. the masjid I like is all the way in Oakland.
So I searched around and found in Concord Masjid Omar al-​Farooq– Alhumdualillah.
I pulled in early (20 – 30 minutes) and there was plenty of parking. I got rockstar parking. with a slight catch– which I will talk about a bit later.
I then wandered toward the front door. and was able to catch a brother on his way in to ask which set of doors is for the womens section. because there are two and the women’s isn’t marked– that I noticed. He pointed me to the left most set of doors saying. that way to the women’s section.
So I made my way into the womens section. This masjid is fairly new which I noticed right off with the well layed out interior and bathroom right off the entrance. When you walk in its a shoe rack Mecca. excuse the pun. The bathroom is beautiful, clean and spacious.
The prayer area is also very nice with a flat screen tv. but I have no clue if it works or not because. no one attempted to turn it on during the khutbah. The prayer area has lots of light because of the beautiful windows along the back wall– placed high enough no one can see in.
There is nice built in cabinetry along one wall with a counter top. so that all of the Qur’ans and other reading materials can be neatly put away and are protected. The prayer rug has nice lines woven in to make sure — its a no brainer which way to pray.
The demographics of the masjid was primarily Afghani– myself and another sister were the only non Afghanis in the women’s prayer area making us something of an item of discussion.
Now for the important part– the Khutbah! So at first I was wondering if the Imam was just going to do the whole thing in Dari or Pashto. But he did the whole khutbah three times. in three different languages just to make sure everyone understood. First in Dari/​Pashto? second in Arabic and finally in English. MashaAllah. I was very impressed at the Imam’s efforts.
The efforts of the Imam to bridge the language barrier alone made me give this masjid four stars even with all of the staring and whispers I got from the Afghani women. But back to the parking quagmire– so as it sometimes happens as masjids people– forget the rules of the road and park other cars in. This is exactly what happened to me. I had to wait a good twenty minutes waiting before I could move my car.
So if you need to get some where after the khutbah and Jummah after attending this masjid– DO NOT park in the parking lot.
All in all a great little masjid located close to the Concord BART station and down town Concord.