About the Show

Here you find some information about the series. The idea, the trivia, the goofs etc.


Ego Box

Synopsis:

LITTLE MOSQUE ON THE PRAIRIE is a comedy from CBC Television about a small Muslim community in the prairie town of Mercy, many of whose residents are wary of their new, more "exotic" neighbors. The series takes an unabashedly funny look at the congregation of a rural mosque and their attempt to live in harmony with the often skeptical, even down right suspicious, residents of their little prairie town. The sitcom reveals that, although different, we are all surprisingly similar when it comes to family, love, the generation gap and our attempts to balance our secular and religious lives.


"Interview" with Zarqa Nawaz: (Journal/Journalist unknown)

How would you describe Little Mosque on the Prairie?
"Little Mosque On The Prairie is a sitcom and not a political satire. I want people to find the hilarity in the show and recognize the similar issues that appear in all our lives. ItÕs important to normalize the community within the greater community so as not to be seen as the 'other' but to recognize that we all have universal themes which exist in all communities. I simply want people to laugh with Muslims like they would laugh at anyone else and feel comfortable doing so."

Tensions between the Muslim and non-Muslim worlds remain high, is this the right time for a show like Little Mosque on the Prairie?
"Absolutely, since 9/11, what we see on the news nearly every day portrays Muslims in terms of conflict. It tends to create a one dimensional perception of a very diverse community. The reality for 99% of us, regardless of our religion, culture or race, is that we spend a lot of time and energy getting along with and trying to understand our families, our friends, our communities and our society. Along the way we do and say things that are very, very funny. The humor in Little Mosque is found in these things, which people in every part of the world can relate to. We all know schemers like Yasir. Every community has a Baber character that's caught between his contemporary teenaged daughter and his love for all things traditional. Laughter, like our cast of characters, is universal."

Is this a Muslim show for Muslims? "Although the series revolves around a mosque, I never intended for Little Mosque On The Prairie to be a show about Muslims for a Muslim audience. As the series encompasses universal themes where the main characters happen to be Muslim. I think that people will identify with the characters and storylines represented in our series regardless of what faith community they come from Š the dogma and ritual may be different but I believe that viewers will see of bit of themselves or people they know represented in our characters."

What do you hope to accomplish with this series?
"There is a lot of misunderstanding about Islam, and its followers. Through the comedy of Little Mosque On The Prairie, I hope a little light can be shed."