Ro’idad-e-Jalsa-e-Du‘a’

The Proceedings of a Prayer Meeting

The Book

The book gives details of a meeting that was called by the Promised Messiah(as) on the occasion of Idul Fitr (February 2, 1900). More than a thousand Ahmadis had gathered in Qadian from Afghanistan, Iraq and different parts of India. After the Eid prayers led by Hazrat Maulavi Hakim Nur-ud-Din in the old Idgah to the west of Qadian, the Promised Messiah(as) delivered an impressive address. Drawing a picture of the tyrannical Sikh rule in the Punjab from which the British rescued the Muslims, he urged the audience, in accordance with the Islamic teachings, to pray for success and victory of the British in the war with South Africa. In his sermon, the Promised Messiah(as) gave an illuminating commentary on Surah al-Nas and enumerated the favours done by the British Government. The meeting ended with a long prayer for British victory in Transval, South Africa, which certainly did not go in vain; the tide of war turned in favour of the British. On account of the prayer rendered by the Promised Messiah(as) in favour of the British Government, it has since been called Jalsa-e-Du‘a’ (Meeting for Prayer). On February 10, 1900, the Promised Messiah(as) issued an appeal for funds to help the orphans, widows and wounded of the war, and Rs. 500 were immediately collected and sent to the Chief Secretary to the Punjab Government and, later, the Lt. Governor thanked the Promised Messiah(as) for this donation on behalf of the Government.1