Arā‘ik is translated as comfortable couches and refers to curtained couches or enclosures. Because of its root meaning of remaining still and attached to something, these are couches or enclosures in which you remain comfortable and do not have to change your position because it starts hurting or becomes uncomfortable.
Secondly, what are they looking at? Nothing is mentioned. From the context, it could be going back to verse 15 and hence, they will be looking at Allah. They will look at Allah with ease and comfort, not being disturbed or made uncomfortable by His glory. This is attested to in a ḥadīth:
Indeed, you will see your Lord just as you see this moon; you will not experience any difficulty, crowding, or obstruction in seeing Him.73 But by not specifying the object, Allah generalizes the meaning, just as He did in verse 15 as explained there. First and foremost, they will be looking at Allah, and this is the greatest experience that can be experienced. Secondly, they will be gazing around at the blessings and luxuries Allah has given them. Everywhere they look, they will see blessings upon blessings. They look here, there are blessings that make them happy, they look there and there are blessings there as well. They will be looking at everything that delights their souls and fills them with joy. But there will
be one more thing they will be looking at, that ties this surah together, which will be mentioned later and we will cover it there.
On comfortable couches/ enclosures, looking
Arā‘ik is translated as comfortable couches and refers to curtained couches or enclosures. Because of its root meaning of remaining still and attached to something, these are couches or enclosures in which you remain comfortable and do not have to change your position because it starts hurting or becomes uncomfortable.
Secondly, what are they looking at? Nothing is mentioned. From the context, it could be going back to verse 15 and hence, they will be looking at Allah. They will look at Allah with ease and comfort, not being disturbed or made uncomfortable by His glory. This is attested to in a ḥadīth:
لَا تُضَ امُّ ونَ فِي رُؤْيَتِهِ ، إِنَّ كُمْ سَ تَرَوْنَ رَبَّ كُمْ كَ مَا تَرَوْنَ هَذَا الْقَمَرَ
Indeed, you will see your Lord just as you see this moon; you will not experience any difficulty, crowding, or obstruction in seeing Him.73 But by not specifying the object, Allah generalizes the meaning, just as He did in verse 15 as explained there. First and foremost, they will be looking at Allah, and this is the greatest experience that can be experienced. Secondly, they will be gazing around at the blessings and luxuries Allah has given them. Everywhere they look, they will see blessings upon blessings. They look here, there are blessings that make them happy, they look there and there are blessings there as well. They will be looking at everything that delights their souls and fills them with joy. But there will
be one more thing they will be looking at, that ties this surah together, which will be mentioned later and we will cover it there.
73 Sahih al-Bukhari 7434