Little Mosque on the Prairie is a Canadian television sitcom created by Zarqa Nawaz, produced by WestWind Pictures and set in the fictional prairie town of Mercy, Saskatchewan about Muslims and Christians attempting to live in harmony with each other in a small town in Canada.
The title alludes to the classic American book and drama series, Little House on the Prairie. The two series are not related aside from the modified version of the title logo.
The series aired in Canada on CBC Television from 9 January, 2007 to 2 April, 2012. There are 91 half-hour episodes in six seasons.
Little Mosque on the Prairie premiered in South Africa on SABC3 on Friday 13 July 2012, at 18h30. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on SABC3 on Friday 14 September 2012, at 18h30. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 20 episodes in the second season.
Synopsis
Little Mosque on the Prairie is the internationally-acclaimed comedy about Muslims and Christians attempting to live in harmony with each other in the small town of Mercy. And they are about to learn that it isn't as easy as they thought.
The location is Mercy Saskatchewan, a small town in the Canadian prairies. A small but devout community of Muslims has settled there, headed by community leader Yasir Hamoudi, a local building contractor.
He is married to Sarah, a Caucasian ex-Christian who has converted to Islam for her husband. Their adult daughter, Rayyan, is a feminist Muslim doctor.
The religious leader of the Muslim community - the Imam - is Amaar Rashid, a young, Canadian-born ex-lawyer from Toronto, who came to Mercy to replace Baber Siddiqui, who was deemed too extreme by many in the Mercy Muslim community.
The local diner is run by Fatima Dinssa, a Nigerian Muslim who is strict about her religion but more liberal in her cultural values.
The Muslims in Mercy are co-existing with their Christian neighbours, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes not. Reverend Duncan Magee welcomes his Muslim neighbours, especially if they enhance the social and economic fabric of the community and his parish.
Likewise, Mayor Ann Popowicz welcomes the Muslim population especially if they vote for her. However, local radio host, Fred Tupper, is suspect of the Muslims and their supposed terrorist ways.
But he and many of the townsfolk, Muslim or Christian, are equally as suspect of someone like Amaar since he is from the big bad city of Toronto, a city which has shaped his views and which is contrary to the outlook of a town like Mercy.
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC3
Season 1 (8 episodes)
Premiere: 13 July 2012 | Finale: 7 September 2012 | Fridays, 18h30
Season 2 (20 episodes)
Premiere: 14 September 2012 | Finale: 8 February 2013 | Fridays, 18h30