إِنَّ أَهل الجنة ليَتَراءَوْن أَهلَ عِلِّيِّن كما تَراءَوْنَ الكَوْكَبَ الدُّرِّيَّ في أُفُق السماء
The people of Paradise look at the people of Illiyeen the way you look at a radiant star on the horizon. (i.e. their status is extremely higher than that of the normal dwellers of Paradise) [Lisan al-`Arab of Ibn Mandhoor]
Ibn al-Atheer says Illiyeen is the name of the seventh heaven. Others say it refers to the place in which the guardian angels reside, those who receive and record the deeds of devout believers. Others say it refers to the rank of the highest ranking and closest-to-Allah believers in the Hereafter.Nay, but the record of the righteous is in ‘Illiyin –
Ah, what will convey unto thee what ‘Illiyin is! –
A written record, Attested by those who are brought near (unto their Lord).
Lo! the righteous verily are in delight,
On couches, gazing,
Thou wilt know in their faces the radiance and serenity of bliss.
They are given to drink of a pure wine, sealed,
Whose seal is musk – for this let (all) those strive who strive for bliss –
And mixed with water of Tasnim,
A spring whence those brought near (to Allah) drink.
[Surat al-Mutafifeen 83:18-28]