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Art & Culture Desk
Name
Anne
-
Profession
Question
Salaam Sister,
I applaud your efforts to introduce Muslims to the west in a comedic manner. I truly believe that we need to use humor to diffuse the pervasive negative image we face in the media.
I find, however, that in many chat rooms Muslims are up in arms over little aspects of your show- the woman wears hijab in her house, the actors are not Muslim, the Imam shook hands with a woman, etc. Have you received any negativity from our community about using this forum to protray the lives of Muslims?
God willing, the response is more positive than negative.
Sadly, I have only seen clips but my mother, the Orthodox Christian loves it. It parallels many of the stories I tell her of Muslim life-like dealing with the partition issue etc.
Answer
Dear Anne,
Thank-you for your kind comments. Overall the response of the community has been positive alhumdullilah. Although I created the series, I did not direct any of the first eight episodes or write all of the episodes myself. We work as a team and I am the only Muslim on the creative team because comedy/television writing is not a career choice that Muslims have gone into in great number yet. So there are issues of adab that are challenging to communicate to non-Muslim actors and the other members of the team. So yes there are some aspects of behaviour that will seem out of the normal behaviour of Muslims. For example, I tried to explain to the team that an Imam would not look at a sister as she bent over. This was considered very innocent to the non-Muslim writers. However, after that show aired and Muslims wrote that they didn't think an Imam would necessarily behave in this manner, the non-Muslim writers did finally understand why this particular scene may not have reflected the authentic behaviour of Muslims. Of course the intention of everyone on the show is not to offend Muslims and it helps me greatly when the Muslim community writes to the show to indicate what aspects they enjoyed and which could be improved. These comments are taken very seriously by the creative team and will be used to improve the show as we go forward Inshallah. I ask everyone to be patient with the creative team because making this show is a learning process for everyone and Inshallah much good will come out of it.
Name
Maryam
-
Profession
Question
Assalam alaikoum my dear sister.
I have heard about your new series and saw your interview on CNN not long ago. Although i have not had a chance to watch your series as I live in Europe, it will no doubt give a fresh outlook about Islam and Muslims living in western societies.
I myself am a young Muslim woman who wears hijab and I live in France where it is very difficult to work or even pursue a career. I am European but not French, and I have experienced subtle and indirect racism here.
I am a very ambitious person, I have a degree and have worked for the most part of my life before I became Muslim. Now I am facing many challenges but I never regret that I am a Muslim woman who wears hijab alhamdoulillah. Nevertheless, it is inspiring to see our Muslim brothers and sisters like yourself who are able to contribute towards asserting a positive image about Islam in different ways and sometimes I wish I could do the same. However, I feel that there are so many restrictions in this society which refuses to accept us for who we are.
What would you advise to the sisters like myself and how can we possibly do something when we are faced with so many obstacles?
Answer
Dear Maryam,
I'm very sorry to hear that you have difficulty in your life. Canada is a wonderful place to be Muslim. Non-Muslims allow us to practice our faith and allow us the choice to wear hijab. As a result, Canadian Muslims have great loyalty and affection for their nation. This country proves that when both groups are respectful of one another, we can live in peace and harmony. I have never had problems getting a job and rising in my chosen profession in Canada. My advice to you is to seek help from Allah by being patient and praying and inshallah you will find a way out of your difficulties in a peaceful manner.
Name
um yusuf
-
Profession
teacher
Question
I enjoyed watching the "Little Mosque" series but I don't think it is suitable for the entire Muslim family. I understand you need to have something that appeals to general public. But kissing scenes, tight clothing, those are some things that shouldn't be in the series. Otherwise, how can general public distinguish what true Muslim what not? I understand the diversity in Muslim community as well but I think this should be looked at as opportunity to educate the masses about what is Islam and what is not, what is Islamic culture and what is culture that is foreign to Islam. What is your take on this?
Answer
Thank-you for your kind comments. I should explain that both my husband and I grew up in Canada. He was born in Canada and I was born in Liverpool, UK and my family came to Canada when I was five. I have four children, two girls and two boys and they all attend public school. My children range in age from six to twelve. My husband and I watch the shows with our children and have discussions with them about the issues in the show. This is something that my parents could not have done with me because they grew up in Pakistan and there is more reservation when it comes to the discussion of certain subjects.
For example, my husband displays affection for me (hugging and kissing in a chaste manner) in our home, which I never saw my parents do because of their more reserved culture. He tells my children that this type of behaviour is allowed in Islam only after marriage. So when my children see kissing on the show, they know it is between a husband and wife and is allowed in a private moments such as the home or outside where there are not many people watching. We also discuss menstruation, homosexuality, inappropriate dress, dating and feelings towards to the opposite sex etc. and what Islam's stand is on such issues. Children in the public school system are going to be exposed very early to these types of issues and it's important to me that my children hear about these things from their parents first so we teach them what Islam says about these issues guide them to how Muslims should behave. And when I read the descriptions of the social interaction of the Muslims in the time of the Prophet (PBUH), I note that there was also an openess to discuss similar issues in that time. There was a hadith of a young woman wanting to ride with the Prophet (PBUH)on the back of his camel. He allowed her to do so and then later noticed she became shy. He knew she had started menstruating for the first time and gave her comfort and told her to wash with salted water.
As well, there are many hadith about Muslims coming to the mosque and behaving in an unIslamic manner. For example, a man came to the mosque and would pray in the lines closest to the women and stare at a beautiful woman from behind his armpits during sujood. Some men were so poor that they could not afford clothing that was long enough and when they went down into sajdah, the front rows of the women were forced to see their awrah (private parts). The Prophet instructed the women to come up from sajdah at a later time so spare them of this sight. So my feelings are that many of the issues that we deal with on the show are similiar to the ones that the early community faced. And if it is difficult to watch some of the scenes in the show then it may also be difficult to read some of the hadith. The companions of the Prophet felt that the hadith should not be edited or censored to spare us of the reality of human behaviour.
So I acknowledge your point that this show may not be suitable for all Muslim families. Each family must make their own decision about their own personal comfort level. To me there is no wrong or right answer. We all raise our children in our best judgement. I probably could not have watched this show with my parents as a child but can now watch it with my children because of our similiar cultural references. So again, I ask you to be patient with us because it is very challenging to make a show that satisfies the needs of everyone. And I will definitely take your needs into consideration as the show goes forward. Please pray for our continued guidance from Allah to make this show a benefit for everyone.
Name
Jemal
- Ethiopia
Profession
engineer
Question
Asselam Aleikum sister in Islam
How are Muslims/Islam [treated] in Canada before 9/11 and after it? Is it like that in USA & Europe? How are women(muslimahs) [treated] especially? Have they freedom to wear what they want to wear in any place? What is the true figure of muslim population there?
What do you mean by "Little Mosque"?
Jezakillah for your Answer.
Answer
After 9-11, I received a lot of support from my non-Muslim neighbours. They wanted me to know that they did not blame us for what extremist Muslims did in the name of Islam. However, the image of Islam and Muslims was tarnished. There are many television shows which depict Muslims as terrorists and Muslim women as oppressed. When these images are the only ones that some non-Muslims see, it distorts their image of Islam and Muslims. This is why the show "Little Mosque on the Prairie" is so important to me. It depicts Muslims as normal individuals with everyday concerns such as working, paying bills, raising their children etc.
I am not certain of the exact Muslim population in Canada because the results of the latest census have not come out. I would estimate it to be around 600,000-800,000 in a country of roughly 30,000,000. And we have the freedom to dress as we choose alhumdulliah.
Name
Fareeha
-
Profession
Question
Assalamu alykum wrwb
I watched the show but I was disappointed with the portrayal of a modern "imam": clean-shaven and lacking Islamic composure. It was also sad to see the women being shown covered at some times and uncovered at other times. The content was funny at all times but I wish that the whole theme can be carried out showing the pure and original Islamic ethics and values.
Answer
Dear Fareeha,
I choose to make the Imam clean-shaven because, although it is sunnah to have a beard, it is not fard. The Imam is young and inexperienced and cannot be perfect in every way. I make sure that the two Muslim leads Rayyan and Fatima are always dressed in beautiful Islamic attire. Because Muslim women are not required to wear hijab at home, I want to educate non-Muslim about our the rules of hijab, such as it doesn't need to be worn at home in front of mahrem. Since the actors are not Muslims, this is not an issue for them.
As for the Imam lacking Islamic composure, I would agree with you on this point. Because we have a non-Muslim team working with me, it is challenging to explain the rules of proper Islamic adhab. But we are improving constantly and your feedback is very important to all of us. Inshallah the show will improve as we go forward. Plese remember us in your prayers.
Name
Imran Bashir
- Pakistan
Profession
Education
Question
What is the basic theme and objective of this sitcom?
Answer
"Little Mosque on the Prairie" is a sitcom which means situational comedy. The setting of the show is a fictional town of Mercy (pop. 10,000) somewhere in the midwest area known in North America as the prairies. The show depicts a small Muslim community interacting with a small non-Muslim community. The theme of the show is about relationships. The relationships can be between Muslims and non-Muslims, first and second generation Muslims, men and women, Muslims of different racial and ethnic background, children and their parents etc.
The objective of the sitcom is to show the challenges that Muslims face in a post 9-11 world. Of course, this is a fictional show so its stories and plots are not 100% reflection of what may actually occur in Muslim communities. It's interesting to note that many non-Muslims have called me to say that that this is the first time they have seen Muslims in a positive light on television. One American viewer told me that he had a negative opinion about Islam and Muslims until he saw the show. The show has the ability to help non-Muslims feel at ease around Muslims and dispel some of the violent stereotypes that surround Muslims.
I had made a lot of dua'a before making the show asking Allah for guidance about whether the show would be a good thing for the Muslim Ummah. I asked him to make my way easy if it was something that would be of benefit to the ummah in this world and the next and to make my way difficult if it was something that would be harmful to my community. And He has made my way easy, so I must trust Him now and believe that this is something that I should continue to do with continued guidance and prayer from my Muslim community.
My intentions are always to please Allah because this show will be my witness on the day of judgement and I will have to account for everything that goes on in it. And He knows what is in my heart, what I can control and what I cannot cannot. And I ask Allah to forgive me for any mistakes that I make because Allah is most merciful and the most compassionate.
Name
Ahmad
- United Kingdom
Profession
Student
Question
Al-salaam wa-ala-kum Sister, I have very much enjoyed your show watching it through peekvid.com. Its a very unique show, because it's got drama and it revolves around Muslims and of course doesn't have any bias! Sister, do carry on with what you are doing just remember that you have an audience here in the UK.
Well my question is: has the show been successful in Canada? As in, have there been many viewers (I'm quite interested to know if non-muslim canadians watch it)?
Well as i said before, carry on with what you're doing and insha-Allah your success will be in my dua's.
Ma-a-sa-la-ma.
Answer
Dear Br. Ahmed,
Thank you for your kind words. The show, alhumdullilah, has been incredibly successful in Canada. By the grace and mercy of God, "Little Mosque on the Prairie" is consistently one of the highest rated shows in the country. The non-Muslim audience is elated by the show and makes up our biggest audience.
Name
Harold
- United States
Profession
Programmer
Question
I'm curious why so many muslims are critical of the show. I find the show funny and I think it helps put a more accessible face on Islam, something that is seriously needed in these very trying times.
Answer
Dear Harold,
This show is something very new to the Muslim community. The comedy of the show is also probably most accessible to second-generation Muslims who have grown up in North America. Also, the extreme left and right of the community will not like the show because it is either too Islamic or not Islamic enough. But the majority of the community who are in the centre or the two ends are responding in great numbers about how much they love the show with of course the occasional raising of the eyebrow.
Of course, there are aspects of the show that even I think should be improved. For example, the relationship between Amaar and Rayyan should not be so flirty. We had a non-Muslim director who isn't familiar with the norms of behaviour in the community and I am not always able to be present to point this out. Because we are shooting at the same time as we are writing, my duties are split and I cannot be everywhere are the same time. And I also am not writing all the episodes. Tonight's episode will be about a white convert who is causing problems for the community. Again there are aspects of this episode, if I had more time, I would have adjusted but people may not realize that we were not supposed to go to air until Sept. 2007. A decision was made to launch in Jan. 2007 instead and we lost eight months in our production schedule. We finished shooting on Jan. 3 and had to air the first episode on Jan. 6. Hence it wasn't possible to correct some issues in post production.
For example, Sura Asr was recited incorrectly which I pointed out to the producers. But because we needed to go on air so quickly, there was no time to correct the mistake before the show aired. However, after the show aired, we brought the tape back to the editing suites to correct the mistake so in future, the sura will be recited correctly. So some Muslims were very upset by this mistake and felt the show wasn't being sensitive to the prayer. But I am confident, that Inshallah, as we go forward, the goodwill that the show is generating for both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities, will become evident to everyone. Anyone whose intention is to find fault with the show will always be able to find it. But those are willing to make excuses for our mistakes and be patient with us, will know that our hearts are in the right place.
Name
M
-
Profession
Question
-
Answer
Dear Viewers,
Thank you for your questions and sorry for not being able to accommodate the ones that were not answered. Please keep your eyes open for future sessions!
We would like you to join us in thanking Ms. Zarqa Nawas for being with us today!
