Two lighthouses in Newfoundland
Dear Editor:
At the far edge of North America, where the first sunrise touches the continent, two lighthouses stand watch over Newfoundland. One is made of stone, its beam guiding ships through fog and storm. The other is a small community of Muslims whose presence has quietly grown on this rugged island. Together, they tell a story about how light, whether physical or spiritual, can reach even the most remote places.
Cape Spear, just outside St. John’s, is widely recognized as the easternmost point of North America. For generations, its lighthouse has been a symbol of safety, endurance, and direction. When its beam cuts across the Atlantic, it reminds us that even at the continent’s edge, guidance matters.
More than a century ago, in 1898, a spiritual reformer in India, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, made a remarkable prediction. He said that his message of peace and devotion would one day reach “the corners of the earth,” long before global travel or communication made such a thing imaginable.
He never saw Newfoundland. He never saw Cape Spear. Yet today, his community, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has taken root here, at the very edge of the Western world.
The story begins in the late 1990s, when a few Ahmadi Muslim families started moving in and out of Newfoundland for work and study. Among them was a young student, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, who came to Memorial University in 1997 and still calls this province home. Over time, more families arrived, forming a small but steady community.
In 2019, the community was blessed with Baitul Ehsan Mosque in Conception Bay South, the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque in Newfoundland. For a group that once gathered in living rooms and rented halls, the mosque became a symbol of belonging and permanence.
Another milestone came in 2021, when Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Newfoundland received its first resident missionary dedicated to serving the province. Until then, one missionary covered all four Atlantic provinces, travelling thousands of kilometres to support scattered communities.
Today, fifteen Ahmadi Muslim families live across Newfoundland. They volunteer, host open houses, participate in food drives, and work to build bridges of understanding with neighbours of all backgrounds. Their presence is quiet but meaningful, a reminder that even in remote places, communities can grow, thrive, and contribute.
And so, on this eastern edge of North America, two lighthouses continue their vigil. One stands on the cliffs of Cape Spear, guiding sailors through the Atlantic. The other stands in the hearts of a small community, guided by hope, service, and a belief that light can reach even the farthest shore.
Together, they show that Newfoundland, though remote, is never beyond the reach of connection, faith, or promise.
Arsalan Ahmed
Missionary & Imam, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Newfoundland & Labrador