Loving And Living The Quran

Allah says: "Then Adam received words from his Lord, so He turned to him mercifully. Surely He is al-Tawwāb, the Merciful." (2:37) The first time the Qur'an introduces the Divine name al-Tawwāb appears in the story of Adam (as). After being tempted by Iblis and leaving the Garden, Adam experienced the weight of what had happened. In that moment of remorse, he turned back to Allah. But the Qur'an highlights something remarkable: Adam's turning did not begin with him alone. Allah taught him the words of return — the kalimāt through which he repented. This reveals something profound about tawbah. When repentance is attributed to a human being, it means returning from sin. When it is attributed to Allah, it means returning with mercy — restoring the servant to His grace. Scholars explain that the servant's repentance is surrounded by two divine acts: Allah inspires the return, and Allah accepts it. The journey begins with His mercy and ends with His mercy. Imam Ali (as) beautifully describes this generosity in Na