Masjid al-Noor

google map of Masjid al-Noor

Group Location

430 Logy Bay Rd.
St. John's, NL
A1A 5C6

Contact Info

Phone number: 709-754-7526‎

History

Exterior, Masjid al-Noor

Origins of the group: The first recorded Muslims in Newfoundland and Labrador was in 1964, when Dr. Muhammad Irfan became a professor of physics at Memorial University of Newfoundland and began organizing the community. Since then, the Muslim population has grown significantly.

Highlights of the group's history: The Masjid Al-Noor, built in 1990, is the first and only mosque in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It was built by the Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MANAL), an association that aims to establish a Muslim community that adheres to the values of Islam and is dedicated to the welfare of its members. For more information about MANAL, please view their website

Today, the mosque serves more than 600 member families, as well approximately 500 students from Memorial University of Newfoundland. This number is growing.

Achievement and goals of the group: The main achievement of MANAL has been to establish the first mosque in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Some ongoing goals of the group are to cater to the need of Muslims in St. John’s and the province in general, to make arrangements for regular prayers to be offered at the mosque, to arrange Islamic education for children and to promote inter-faith dialogue. A short-term goal of the group is to build a facility that will serve as a recreational centre for the growing number of youth members.

Life in St. John's/NL: Before the 1990s, the Muslim population of St. John’s varied from 15-25 families and around 100 students. However, due to the economic prosperity of the province, during the past 10 years the Muslim population of St. John’s has increased substantially, in both numbers and diversity. The mosque remains the focal point of all Muslim activities of the city.

Structure

Membership: The mosque’s current membership consists of more than 1000 people, including students. It is expected that this number will continue to increase alongside the province’s continued economic prosperity.

Leaders and Contacts: Directors and contact persons can be reached by telephoning the mosque at 709-754-7526, or by contacting:

  • Syed Mansoor Pirzada, President, apirzada@pol.net
  • Kamrul Islam, Secretary, kislam1972@yahoo.ca
  • Haseen Khan, Treasurer, haseenukhan@gmail.com
  • Mahmoud Haddara, Advisor, mh2000ca@yahoo.ca
  • Abdelsalam Mesbah, Imam, asmesbah@hotmail.com

Facilities: The mosque, a three story structure, houses resources and facilities for the Muslim community, as well as Islamic classes, which are held on Sunday. MANAL (Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labrador) is responsible for the maintenance of the mosque.

Activities

Schedule of Events: Daily prayer is held at Masjid-an-Noor. During weekdays, the mosque is open for Fajr, Maghrib and Isha; on weekends, it is open for all five prayers. A schedule of prayer times is available on the MANAL website. Holiday observances are also held, such as special prayer times during the month of Ramadan. Islamic classes, held on Sundays, educate members in the Qur’an, Arabic and general Islamic studies.