فالوجه في هذه الاخبار أن نقول-إن صحت-إنه لا يمتنع أن يكون الله تعالى قد وقت هذا الامر في الاوقات التى ذكرت، فلما تجدد ما تجـدد تغيـرت المصلحة واقتضت تأخيـره إلى وقت آخر، وكذلك فيما بعد، ويكون الوقت الاول، وكل وقت يجوز أن يؤخر مشروطا، بأن لا يتجدد ما يقتضي المصلحة تأخيره إلى أن يجئ الوقت الذي لا يغيره شيء فيكون محتوما. وعلى هذا يتأول ما روي في تأخير الاعمار عن أوقاتها والزيادة فيها عند الدعاء (والصدقات) وصلة الارحام، وما روي في تنقيص الاعمار عن أوقاتها إلى ما قبله عند فعل الظلم وقطع الرحم وغير ذلك، وهو تعالى وإن كان عالما بالامرين، فلا يمتنع أن يكون أحدهما معلوما بشرط والآخر بلا شرط، وهذه الجملة لا خلاف فيها بين أهل العدل. وعلى هذا يتأول أيضا ما روي من أخبارنا المتضمنة للفظ البداء ويبين أن معناها النسخ على ما يريده جميع أهل العدل فيما يجوز فيه النسخ، أو تغير شروطها إن كان طريقها الخبر عن الكائنات، لان البداء في اللغة هو الظهور، فلا يمتنع أن يظهر لنا من أفعال الله تعالى ما كنا نظن خلافه، أو نعلم ولا نعلم شرطه.
The explanation of these reports is that we say: Supposing these reports are correct, it would not negate the possibility that Allah, the Mighty and the High has fixed one of the times that are mentioned. Thus if He changes the conditions and circumstances, He would also change the exigency and that fixed time would be replaced by another. Definitely in the later periods also the same matter continues and the explanation is on the same base. Due to this, neither the time, which was fixed previously, all other times can also be postponed under some conditions till that which is causing delay of reappearance is not repeated, and till the time arrives, which nothing can change and which is imminent. Reports about the topic of delay in age, deaths and increase in lifespan due to supplication, alms and doing a good turn to relatives and also that which is mentioned under the subject of decrease in lifespan and advancement of deaths as a result of oppression, breaking off relations and other acts, is based on the same interpretation and although Allah, the Mighty and the High is aware of both of them, but it is possible that one of them is not definite and the other is definite, and in this matter there is no difference between Imamiyah and Mutazila. Also reports in which the word of ‘Bada’ is mentioned, are also due to the same interpretation and it is clear that the meaning of ‘Bada’ is abrogation of something in which change is justified and possible, or that its conditions have changed, in case that informing about it is Takweeni (providential) as the literal meaning of ‘Bada’ is appearance. Thus, it is possible that one of the acts of Almighty Allah has become apparent for us whereas we had imagined it’s opposite or that we were aware of it, but did not know its conditions and of such kind are the following reports:
