Research Tools / **Glossary** # **Glossary of Terms** ##### Definitions and background notes on Baha'i terms and other relevant terminology. [↓ PDF](https://leland-jensen-info.netlify.app/bada-glossary-leland-jensen-archive.pdf/) # bada' - Pronunciation: (bah-DAH) - Arabic word for the Shi'i Islamic theological concept that there was a change in divine will or the "divine promise was not fulfilled"\[1] or it was altered in some way or it was revealed in a way that it was not expected or anticipated. - Has been used in the Baha'i writings.\[2] - The nonstandard English is a transliteration of the Arabic most often spelled **bada'**. Other spellings may include; bada, badaa, badá, badā’, badah, al-bada', bāda, among others. *** ### Sources **Interpretive Note:** *Despite originating in Shia Islam, the definition, usage, and history of the term **bada'** can be found in both Shia and Sunni contexts without being immediately apparent to the non-Muslim reader. The Baha'i Faith evolved out of Shia Islam so that usage is relevant to the content found on this site. Much of the Sunni commentary on **bada'** adopts an argumentative tone, as it appears primarily in critiques of Shia theology.* ‎ **Encyclopaedia Iranica** >**BADĀʾ** (Ar. appearance, emergence), as a theological term denotes a change of a divine decision or ruling in response to the emergence of new circumstances. It is upheld in Imami Shiʿite doctrine and rejected by most other Shiʿite and Sunni schools. The notion of _badāʾ_ is said to have been put forward first by Moḵtār b. Abī ʿObayd Ṯaqafī when he predicted the victory of his supporters in a battle against Moṣʿab b. Zobayr in 67/686-87, claiming to have received a promise of God to that effect and, after their defeat, explained that God had changed His decision (_badā lahū_). > >(Encyclopaedia Iranica, accessed October 20, 2025, https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/bada-theological-term/) ‎ **Brill** >**Badāʾ** (Ar.), appearance, emergence; in theology: the emergence of new circumstances which cause a change in an earlier divine ruling. (Dozy, Essai sur l’Histoire de l’Islamisme, 223, gives the term too wide a meaning, as “mutabilité de Dieu” \[the mutability of God]). … The possibility of badāʾ is, in opposition to the divergent Sunnī doctrine … > >(Brill, accessed October 20, 2025, https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/EIEO/SIM-0987.xml) ‎ **Wikipedia** >**Bada'** In Twelver Shi'ism, **_bada’_** (Arabic: البَدَاء, lit. 'appearance' or 'emergence') means change in a divine decree in response to new circumstances. A textbook example of _bada'_ in Twelver sources is the death of Isma'il, the eldest son of the Shia imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (d. 765). Isma'il was probably the expected or even the designated successor but he predeceased his father, who is said to have used the occasion to teach his followers about _bada’_. > >(Wikipedia, accessed October 20, 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bada%27) ‎ *** **Contextual Notes** **1.** A phrasing for the definition of bada' — "divine promise was not fulfilled" — was taken from the Baha'i writings where we read; >Among the Prophets was Noah. For nine hundred and fifty years He prayerfully exhorted His people and summoned them to the haven of security and peace. None, however, heeded His call. … Long afterward, **He several times promised victory to His companions and fixed the hour thereof. But when the hour struck, the divine promise was not fulfilled \[bada'].** This caused a few among the small number of His followers to turn away from Him, and to this testify the records of the best-known books. > > (Baha'u'llah, [_Kitab-i-Iqan _](https://bahai.works/Kit%C3%A1b-i-%C3%8Dq%C3%A1n/Par_1-50), \[The Book of Certitude], pt. 1, para. 7. Emphasis added.) **2.** As both the Bab and Baha'u'llah were initially Shi'i Muslims, and the Babi and Baha'i Faiths were the fulfillment of Shi'i prophecy, the concept was know to them and was used by both in their writings. *See Contextual Note 1 for the example found in Baha'u'llah's Kitab-i-Iqan.* The Bab in a Tablet addresses the concept of _Yawm **al-Bada'**_ — or the "Day of the Alteration of Divine Will" — in a provisional translation to a believer. Read the [Tablet of the Bab Addressed to Mulla 'Abdu'l-Khaliq Yazdi](https://bahai-library.com/bab_norozi_abdul-khaliq_yazdi) *** **Reference Information** - **Permanent Link:** https://leland-jensen.info/glossary/bada/ - **Download PDF:** [bada-glossary-leland-jensen-archive.pdf](https://leland-jensen-info.netlify.app/bada-glossary-leland-jensen-archive.pdf/) - **Archive Home:** https://leland-jensen.info - **Last Updated:** 31 March 2026 - **Revision Notes:** Moved from Resources to Research Tools. *** **See Also** - [[1960-06-01 Hands Declare Bada'|The Hands declare Bada']] - Charles Mason Remey *** [Site Guide](site%20guide.md)  |   [Sitemap](sitemap.md)  |   [Downloads](downloads.md)  |  [Contact Us](contact%20us.md) **Dr. Leland Jensen**: Teachings and Commentaries Archive © 2026 Baha'i Council of Dane County, all rights reserved.  [Copyright & Usage Policy](copyright.md) ***