The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "Upon Couches, They Gaze"

The Shaykh : .
Al-ara'ik is the plural of araykah, which are the luxurious couches with backrests. They gaze at what? They gaze at what Allah has prepared for them of bliss, and among that is the gaze upon the Face of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). May Allah make me and you among those who gaze upon the Face of Allah.
The student: Amen.

The Shaykh : Now, in Surat al-Saffat, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said regarding the people of Paradise: From among the people of Paradise "I had a companion in this world who denied the Resurrection. He used to say: 'Do you believe that when we die and become dust and bones, we will be resurrected and recompensed? Do you believe in this?' But this believer rejected this friend, rejected this companion, and took the opposite path, so he believed in the Resurrection and the recompense. The man from Paradise said: Is this for suspense, meaning, 'Will you not look up to see this companion?' So he looked up and saw him in the lowest part of the Hellfire. Who did he see?
His companion, who used to say to him in this world, 'How can you believe in the Resurrection?' He saw him in the lowest part of the Hellfire, in its bottom and depths, refuge with Allah. He said to him: "By Allah, you nearly led me astray," meaning, among those brought to the punishment. Pay attention. Here, how is the one in the highest of the highest in Paradise looking at the one in the lowest of the lowest in the Fire? How does he look at him? Yes.
The student: It is from the unseen matters.

The Shaykh : We said it is from the matters of the Hereafter, and here is from the matters of this world that testifies to it. The television now; the president is giving a speech in... the president of the people. I said "the president," and that is incorrect unless you specify it. "The president" you attribute to his people, like the president of America giving a speech in his country. Yes, and we watch him despite this great distance, even though the craft is the craft of whom? The craft of humans. So how about the Creator (Mighty and Majestic)? He addresses him and says: He says He addresses him and that one hears... Can he hear or not? Because the conditions of the Hereafter are not like the conditions of this world. And if you wish, say that in the conditions of this world there is what testifies to that. What is it?
The student: ...

The Shaykh : The telephone, whether in the farthest east or the farthest west, can speak to you while you are here.
In any case, I say: return to the saying of the Exalted: But this laughter is not followed by misery or sadness, unlike the laughter of the believers among the criminals, for it is, may Allah protect us from that, followed by misery, sadness, and weeping.