Watch Little Mosque on the Prairie

Little Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian sitcom that aired on CBC from 2007 to 2012. The show follows a group of Muslims and their interactions with the non-Muslim population in the fictional town of Mercy, Saskatchewan. The main character of the show is Amaar Rashid (played by Zaib Shaikh), a young, liberal-minded lawyer who moves from Toronto to Mercy to become the Imam of the local mosque. Amaar quickly becomes the target of skepticism and suspicion from some of the more conservative members of the community, including the mosque's former Imam, Baber Siddiqui (Carlo Rota).

The show also features several other recurring characters, including Sarah Hamoudi (Sitara Hewitt), a Canadian-born Muslim who struggles to balance her faith with her desire for independence; Fatima Dinssa (Arlene Duncan), a no-nonsense grandmother who takes her role as the mosque's caretaker very seriously; and Yasir Hamoudi (Manoj Sood), a businessman who is constantly trying to balance his Muslim faith with his desire to succeed in the mainstream world.

Throughout the five seasons of the show, Little Mosque on the Prairie tackles issues such as xenophobia, religious tolerance, and cultural clashes. One of the show's biggest strengths is its ability to handle these sensitive topics with humor and grace, never shying away from difficult conversations but also never taking itself too seriously.

The show also explores the personal lives of its characters, from Amaar's romantic entanglement with a local radio host (Sheila McCarthy) to Fatima's struggles with aging and loneliness. While most of the characters are Muslim, the show does not shy away from portraying their faults and foibles, making them fully realized human beings rather than caricatures or stereotypes.

One unique aspect of Little Mosque on the Prairie is its focus on the Canadian Muslim experience. While there are certainly shows and movies that deal with Islam in a global context, this show is one of the few that specifically addresses the challenges and joys of being Muslim in Canada. By focusing on a small town in the prairies, the show is able to highlight the diversity and complexity of the Muslim community in Canada.

Overall, Little Mosque on the Prairie is a charming and insightful sitcom that manages to balance humor with social commentary. Its characters are lovable and relatable, its writing is smart and perceptive, and its message of unity and understanding is more relevant than ever.

Little Mosque on the Prairie is a series that ran for 6 seasons (91 episodes) between January 9, 2007 and on CBC