Thereafter Adam received certain words from his Lord and He relented to him; truly He is the Relenting the Merciful. Words flowed from the tongue of Adam in the company of the Real سبحانه and words came from the Real سبحانه to the ears of Adam. They have recited: When we are afraid of the eyes of observers the secrets in the hearts speak. The Real سبحانه spoke in general terms about that [conversation] in order to keep the story veiled or to leave open the possibility of equivocal mean- ing iḥtimāl different opinions ẓunūn and a place for interpretation taÌwīl regarding what it might mean. It is possible that the words of Adam عليه السلام may have been an excuse and justification and the words of the Real سبحانه were by way of acceptance and favor. According to the tafsīr traditions the words of God most high to him were “Are you in flight from Us O Adamḍ” Likewise Adam's words عليه السلام to Him were Our Lord we have wronged ourselves [7:23] and he said “Are You the one evicting me from the gardenḍ” He said “Yes.” Adam said “Will You return me to itḍ” and He said “Yes.” It is said that when He commanded his expulsion from the garden He made a provision zād for him as He told him he would in His exalted speech so that it would be a remembrance and preparation [for his jour- ney] ʿatād: I remember the days of protection then my liver goes weak from fear of being cut off. The conversations of lovers cannot be explained and outsiders will not fully understand them. The decree for the unseen was thus by way of allusion ishāra and not by the meaning provided by commentary tafsīr or inter- pretation taÌwīl. The Real سبحانه wanted this to suggest the state of lovers at the time of separation. In times of farewell it is said “When you leave me do not forget me idhā kharajta min ʿindī fa-lā tansa ʿahdī. If some day you hear little news of me khabarī do not choose another in place of me ghayrī!” And it is also possible to say “If your coming wuṣūluka must elude me at least do not let your emissary rusūluka be delayed.”
