مجلس الشيخ عباس الريس

Sheikh Abbas Al-Rayes The acts of worship through which servants seek proximity to Allah the Almighty vary in their strength and weakness. However, sending blessings upon the Prophet and his family—may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all—stands at the forefront regarding its immense reward and inevitable acceptance. We have extensively discussed this subject while examining the meanings of verses and narrations detailed in the preceding chapters of this book. ​Here, however, we will address this act of worship, albeit briefly, to attempt to unveil the hidden secret behind why this devotion is unequivocally accepted under all circumstances. ​Accordingly, we can discuss this across several points after raising the following question: Why are all acts of worship subject to either acceptance or rejection, except for sending blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as reported in numerous traditions from the Ahl al-Bayt (Peace Be Upon Them)? ​The answer to this can ...

  Sheikh Abbas Al-Rayes An atmosphere that inspires awe, and a land surrounded by mountains on all four sides, or nearly so. There are gaps a viewer can see between one mountain and another; its Creator prepared it so His servants could gather there in a single unified state to perform the greatest of religious rites on its day, embracing that day more tightly than the black of the eye embraces its white. ​Towering mountains and a flat land wherein you see no depression or elevation. The heart of the ascetic finds peace when it embraces him, just as a mother embraces her newborn. On that day, he hopes from his Lord for various requests, just as a child asks his mother and hopes from her. ​In that atmosphere, permeated from all sides, a wave takes hold of a person, drawing him toward the Highest Realm. He parts with the earth and the foul waste of materialism for a more sublime realm, by virtue of his melting into obedience with utter sincerity. ​That is the land of Arafat—as n...

Sheikh Abbas Al-Rayes Among these names are Al-Nassah (The Expeller of Sins), Umm Ruhm (The Mother of Mercy), Umm al-Qura (The Mother of Cities), Ma'ad (The Place of Return), and Al-Hatimah (The Crusher). It is given the latter name because it crushes those who disdain it, or because it obliterates the sins burdening a person at Al-Hateem , as narrated from the Ahl al-Bayt (Peace be upon them). Other names include Al-Haram (The Sanctuary), Salah (Righteousness), and Al-Balad Al-Amin (The Secure City). Furthermore, it was named Makkah because it Tamukku (depletes/crushes) the tyrants; meaning, it eradicates their arrogance. ​Ibn al-Anbari described it, saying: "Mecca is a city situated in a valley, overlooked by mountains from all directions that encircle the Kaaba. Its buildings are constructed from smooth black and white stones, and their upper sections are built with abundant fired bricks. They feature numerous extensions made of teakwood and consist of elegant, wh...