[2:37] Thereafter Adam received certain words from his Lord and He relented to him; truly He is the Relenting, the Merciful.
Certain words passed the lips of Adam with the Real (s) and certain words came from the Real (s) to Adam's ears. They have recited:
When we are afraid
of the eyes of observers,
the secrets in the hearts
speak.
The Real (s) spoke in general terms about that [conversation] in order to keep the story veiled, or to leave open the possibility of equivocal meaning (iḥtimāl), different opinions (ẓunūn) and a place for interpretation (taÌwīl) regarding what it might mean.
It is possible that the words of Adam (ʿa) might have been an excuse and vindication, and the words of the Real (s) were by way of acceptance and favor. According to the tafsīr traditions, His (t) words to him were, 'Are you in flight from me, O Adam?' Likewise, his words (ʿa) to Him were Our Lord we have wronged ourselves (7:23), and he said, 'Are You the one evicting me from the Garden?' He said, 'Yes'. Adam said, 'Will You return me to it?' and He said, 'Yes'.
It is said when He commanded his expulsion from the Garden, He made what He told him in His exalted speech a provision so that it would be a remembrance and preparation [for his journey]:
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. By way of allusion (ishāra), and not by the meaning provided by commentary (tafsīr) or interpretation (taÌwīl), the decree for the Unseen was thus. The Real (s) wanted that to suggest the state of lovers at the time of separation. In times of farewell, it is said, 'When you leave me, don't forget me. If one day news of me becomes less for you, do not choose another in place of me!' And it is also possible to say, 'If your coming (wuṣūluka) has eluded me, please don't let your emissary (rasūluka) be late to me.'