Ep 4. Swimming Upstream

In the fourth episode of season one of Little Mosque on the Prairie titled "Swimming Upstream," tensions rise in the small Canadian town of Mercy as the Muslim community prepares for a swim day at the local pool. Ameena, the ambitious head of the mosque board, wants to ensure that the women and girls of the mosque have a private swimming session in accordance with their beliefs. However, Baber, the rigid and conservative leader of the mosque, is opposed to the idea, insisting that mixed genders should swim together as is the norm in his home country.

Meanwhile, Rayyan, the intelligent and independent-minded daughter of the mosque's imam, struggles to fit in with her Muslim peers. She is teased for her love of basketball and her Westernized attire. Tired of being treated as an outsider, Rayyan befriends Sarah, a non-Muslim girl who is more accepting of her differences.

As the day of the swim event draws near, tensions between Ameena and Baber reach a boiling point. Baber becomes increasingly hostile and controlling, even going so far as to suggest that Ameena is trying to destroy the Muslim community with her push for a private women's swim time. Ameena responds by organizing a protest that attracts media attention, leading to a tense confrontation between the two leaders in front of the entire town.

In the end, the swim day goes ahead, but not without some compromises on both sides. The women and girls enjoy a private swim session, but Baber insists on maintaining the norm of mixed swimming for the men and boys. Meanwhile, Rayyan finds comfort in her new friendship with Sarah, and begins to realize that her differences are something to celebrate, not hide.

Overall, "Swimming Upstream" is a thought-provoking episode that explores themes of tradition, modernity, and intercultural conflict. It highlights the challenges faced by Muslim communities in the West, and the importance of finding common ground in the face of seemingly insurmountable differences. While it is a lighthearted family comedy, Little Mosque on the Prairie is also a powerful commentary on the issues of our time.