Hawzah News Agency- Bada' in Arabic means to become manifest. In Shiite terminology, bada' means that God reveals for people facts that were hidden from them such that they expected otherwise.
As the Qur'an views the affairs, man is not such as to be invariably helpless before his fate, but he may change the course of his fate by returning to the Truth and by doing worthy deeds, this being a universal and lasting principle, asserted by the Qur'an "Allah does not change the conditions of a people until they change their own conditions." 13:11. Also, "And if the people of the cities had believed and guarded (against evil), We would certainly have opened up for them the blessings from the heaven and the earth. 7:96." Such states the Qur'an concerning a change in Prophet Yunus' (Jonah) lot: "But had it not been that he was of those who glorify (Us), he would certainly have tarried in its (i.e. the whale's) belly until the Resurrection Day." 37:143-4.
The above verse indicates that Prophet Yunus was apparently to remain in this special jail until the Day of Resurrection, but his good deed (his glorifying God) changed his lot and saved him.
Conclusion
As understood from the Qur'an and traditions, it is quite probable for one to be doomed to a certain painful end due to the natural sequence of cause and effect, stemming from his everyday behavior; he may be warned by a saint such as the Prophet or an Imam, of such a consequence if he continues misbehaving. Such an end may, however, change its direction and lead to happiness if one corrects his deeds. This fact, derived from the logic of revelation, the Prophet's Sunnah and the explorations of the reason is, in Shiite terminology, called Bada'.
It should also be mentioned that Bada' never implies a change in God's knowledge, for He knows, from the very beginning, the natural course man's actions will move in, as well as the influence of the factors that can change this process and cause Bada', as He has said in the Qur'an: "He blots out and He establishes whatever he wills, and with Him is the essence (mother) of the Book" 13:39
This means that at the time when Bada'' occurs, God actually clarifies for us what has been a clear fact to Him since eternity. This is why Imam Sadiq, peace be upon him, says, "In no event did God consider (the occurrence of) Bada' but He knew it before it took place." [Usul a- Kafi, The Book al-Tawhid, chapter on Bada', tradition 9]
The Philosophy of Bada'
If man feels he has a free hand in changing his fate, he will no doubt try to make himself a better future, and will endeavor more energetically to improve his life. In other words, just as repentance and intercession save him from hopelessness and a bleak life, Bada' will fill him with happiness, giving him hope for a bright future, for it is in the light of such an insight that man knows that he can, as ordained by God, change his lot and move on to a better future and a brighter end.