A shallow, smug, and preachy episode about Rayyan's dating. It sounded like a public announcement warning the "shallow" Jeffs of the world not to come near Muslim women.
I actually like Jeff.
How many times did they have to say "Islam says this and that" and "Muslims do and Muslims don't"? Why can't Rayyan just say "I don't date." This is a little sit com about a little mosque in a a little town. Why the constant urge to speak IN The NAME OF Islam and Muslims? Lose the big head little mosque.
What was the point of collapsing all dating with a Muslim woman dating a non-Muslim man and making that the taboo of all taboos? Why didn't they re-define dating? Especially when the flirting and sexual tension between the Imam and Rayan is used to drive the episode forward?
There are mosques that organize a "Muslim" version of speed dating. There are Muslims "dating" on specialized internet sites. The Muslims I know go on all kinds of dates, some with physical contact of varying degrees (I'll spare you the sports metaphors) and some without. People dated in college (and I don't mean only the leftists. Actually some of the best Habbeebeh (love birds) of my college days were Samer and Maysoon, two leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood on campus).
On this note, in pre-Intifada days many parents from my hometown used to ship their daughters (and sons) home when they reached puberty to protect them from the loose morals of American society. Those kids sometimes are living with their grandmothers or the mothers since the fathers are too busy working in their grocery stores in New York or Dearborn. So in effect the family is split and most of these kids hardly have a relationship with their fathers. The kids usually attend the American school in town and a couple of other private schools that were established to cater specially for them.
Whether the parents want to believe or not, these kids date. Probably more so in Ramallah than in Dearborn.
In short, Muslims date.
But wait--maybe that's the whole point of the episode: that those dating Muslims are not really Muslims or are bad Muslims that need to reform their ways.
In other words a sermon. "I'll get you a pamphlet" kind of non-argument.
Wake up little mosque. You're sounding too provincial even for a little mosque on the prairie.
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13 comments:
I did watch the episode too and I agree with every word you said. I found it pointing to dating too much. I mean it is not right for Muslim girls to date non-Muslim guys. We got that point. But not to date at all? Hello!! This is 2007! How do people meet each other and get to know each other. I think it was too old school and very conservative Islamic view in this episode. I thought this show was funny and to show that Islam is not that extreme.
Oh by the way.. Don't you think the Imam likes Rayyan? It is soooo obvious from the first episode and they will get them too married soon.. lol
I don't mind being used... I'm user friendly!!
LOL
I love barbar ... or what ever his name is...
Amal you're starting to sound like an Infidel sympathizar ... Astaghfirullah!
LOL
The Imam does like Rayyan, you can tell because he was jealous. :-P I didn't understand the emphasis on dating, either. O_o
I understand what you're saying; HOWEVER, you shouldn't be surprised. There's no reason little mosque is going to show an accurate depiction of Muslims or positively change people's stereotypes about Muslims. It's a tv show. I doubt there's a single show on TV that shows a half way realistic portrayal of Christians, Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Pagans, or Atheists.
TV, especially comedy, FEEDS off of stereotypes and common misperceptions. As long as a stereotype is funny, it makes it on TV, regardless of whether or not its accurate.
Another example: When the "L word" was released, many lesbians thought that the show didn't display an accurate portrayal of "real" gay women. After all, it was the first major show on television about the lesbian community, so messing it up could mess up people's perceptions of lesbians. The response to the criticism? "Yeah, like ‘Sex and the City’ shows such an accurate view of heterosexual women!”
I don't think that Muslims should bank their hopes on little mosque. It's entertainment, not a documentary.
Arianne,
I'm not surprised at all. And neither realism nor stereotypes are the issue here. Any representation of any group of people plays a role in "constructing" reality, not simply reflecting it. This is why I care about pop culture. As a cultural critic, I can't dismiss things even if they are entertainment. All representations matter, some more than others depending on how far reaching they are and how much cultural authority they have. I don't have any big expectations of the show: I'm just a cultural observer who is interested in what images and representations are circulating about Muslims and Arabs, produced by both Muslims and non Muslims.
The biggest political issue relating to Islam is who speaks in the name of Islam and Muslims. Who has the authority, who is authentic etc. Unlike what the Islamophobes and the fundamentalists say Islam is contested; it's not one thing. The show seemed to acknowledge this fact earlier (episode about women praying with men for example). But when it came to issues of sexuality it is falling on the conservative sermon mode and speaking in the name of an "Islam" that doesn't allow debate on these issues.I thought it's funny that Rayyan said twice "let me get you a pamphlet" during one episode.
The analogy with the "L word" is a good one. The answer to that analogy is not. the L word was basically the only tv series focused on lesbians. Everything else on tv is about heterosexual women. So sex and the city does not have the burden of represenation that the L Word and Little Mosque have. I agree with the reservations about the L word, but I think the benefits are greater. The L word is also constructing a reality: clearing a normal space for lesbian sexuality and really humanizing lesbians by putting them in the context of their daily lives (love lives and otherwise lives). I wish Mosque would do contribute a tiny bit in this direction regarding Muslims. Otherwise, who needs another stupid sit com showing Muslims conducting their lives according to "pamphlets".
rebellion Arab girl,
I agree, the episode was conservative and out of step. so let this be a lesson to you : )
yes, bland Imam has the hots for Rayan. Who cares?
I hope the Imam is not going to turn out to be Married and then they use this as an entry point to get to polygamy!
I guess I can sorta see how "Little Mosque" is a bit --- I don't know, one dimensional? I am not a Muslim, nor do I personally know Muslims very well, but the characters in the show act more or less how I'd EXPECT them to act. Then again, that's exactly how I though the show would be.
Amal you are spot on.
I was disgusted when watching this episode. I am reminded of village times when neighboors opinions were more respected when the womens'.
I could not believe that Rayan accepted the fact that everyone, including strange old men, were trying to actively control her social life. It should be her choice period.
I know so many "muslim" men dating and acting like Jeff who make jeff look like a saint because they go to strip clubs, visit prostitutes, have numerous affairs after marring their virgin bride from Dearborn. Its sad but true.
I think it is so hypocritical that muslim men can date non muslims and Rayan thinks this is fine that muslim women cant, as if women are morally weak creatures compared to men.
I could not believe sex crazed Yasser, the bad muslim, how he turned into a rabid dog when he considered that Rayan might have a sex life of her own.
I dont mind the backwardness of the character as long as there is a character that stands up to such blatant hypocracy, even if they might be unpopular. Lets have a rebelious cousin, or someone to bring some light to this show.
Salaam guys,
Just a few points. First. I think that this show is WAY too liberal! So theres a controversial remark just to get started. If this show is to show the lives of muslims it probably works in showing the lives of a typical 'western but trying to stay true to Islam' social group. If it is trying to show Islam it fails in a few important ways.
1. Islam commands men to 'lower' their gaze when they see a woman. In this respect all male characters fail.
2. Islam works on a principle that if something is forbidden/haraam, then all things that lead up to it are haraam as well. That cuts out all the flirting etc (Amar and Rayaan beware)
The thing that i dont get is how some people can say that Islam needs to be reevaluated and progressive etc. I m not one to argue with Allah, and he says:
This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor towards you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”(Al-Ma’idah 5:3)
Religion is perfected people. Lets leave it be. If you want to be a muslim be a muslim. If not then dont. But dont try and bend Islam to what you want it to be. That is the path that leads to jahannam.
Salaam
This news just in! Little Mosque has been signed on for a new season of 20 episodes starting in October!!!
Also. it will be shown in France, Switzerland and parts of Africa!!
Wheee!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070509.wmosque09/BNStory/Entertainment/home
Little Mosque on the Prairie is on DVD, order online at www.cbcshop.ca - watch for Season 3 coming to DVD January 2010.
CBC Shop ships to the USA and Worldwide.
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