On 2 February 1900, it was Eid-ul-Fitr in Qadian. The Promised Messiahas had encouraged Ahmadis of not only villages and nearby towns, but from other areas of India to assemble in Qadian for Eid. Around a thousand Ahmadis travelled from Madras, Kashmir, Shahjehanpur, Jhang, Multan, Patiala, Sinaur, Kapurthalla, Malir Kotla, Ludhiana, Shahpur, Sialkot, Gujrat, Lahore, Amritsar, Batala, Gurdaspur and other parts of India.
The Promised Messiahas walked, along with his entourage, to the ground at the west of Qadian, which is now known as the “Old Eid Gah”. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin Sahibra led the Eid prayer which was followed by an enlightening sermon on the meanings of Surah Al-Nas, bringing to light the hidden treasures of this Surah.
As England at that time was at war with the natives of South Africa – in what is known as the Boer War – the Promised Messiahas touched upon the topic by praising the policy of freedom of religion exercised by the British Government. Huzooras urged that all ought to pray for the victory of the British and also led the congregation in prayers. It is from this prayer that this congregation of Eid came to be known as “Jalsa Dua”.
The Promised Messiahas raised funds for the aforementioned Boer War and arranged for the funds to be sent to the British Government for relief of wounded soldiers. Upon receipt of the donation of five-hundred rupees, the officials wrote to the Promised Messiahas, expressing their gratitude. The Promised Messiahas mentioned this in the booklet named Roedad Jalsa Dua (Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 15, p. 627).
The Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre (ARC) have, in their records, the wording of the letter as it was published by the Homeward Mail. Below is the image of the newspaper with the letter of acknowledgment: