Disclaimer: We are recommending these books as we believe they are beneficial. We do not necessarily endorse 100% of the contents. No book is perfect so we encourage you to remain critical (as you should when engaging any kind of media). 

 

Book title: From the Stage to the Prayer Mat: The Story of how a World-Famous Dancer Fell in Love with the Divine.

No. of pages: 316

Readability: The text is clear, big and easy to read. The style is reflective and almost poetic. There are some complex terms and ideas.

 

What is this book about?  

This part-autobiographical book details the reflections of a Swedish ballet dancer who at the height of her career, converted to Islam and moved to Turkey to seek deeper meaning for her life. As the blurb aptly summarises: “In this love-filled memoirs, Brodbeck narrates her journey of enlightenment from fame to submission, from chaos to adoration”. It was recognised in the “Spirituality” category during the New York Summer Book Festival in 2009.

The book is divided into four sections:

• Part One: Wonder and Adoration for Prophet Muhammad
• Part Two: The Dance of Life
• Part Three: The Sacredness of the Human Being
• Part Four: Humanity between Salvation and Destruction

It is a very rich and thought-provoking memoir that strongly critiques the modern way of life. It presents a strong case for the need to get back in touch with our spiritual side and find the hidden treasures within us. Brodbeck inspires the reader to transcend the materialistic, soul-destroying world we may find ourselves in and seek the true meaning of life. Essentially, she invites us to see things for how they truly are, with the eyes of the heart mirroring the Qur’anic concept:

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ 

“So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the chests” (22:46).

A plethora of themes are covered which include: reflection, gratitude, poverty, the meaning of art and the art world, traveling, philosophy, spirituality, religion, nature, war, trauma, conflict, disasters, hope, relief, ego, humility, inward dimension, East and West, science and religion, and human nature.

 

Note: Some sections of the book are highly influenced by Sufism and thus contain aspects such as the concept of ‘annihilation of the self’ as well as ghuluw (exaggeration) about the Holy Prophet, particularly in Part One. It’s important to keep this in mind when reading the book.

 

Who should read this book?

This book is for those who feel unsatisfied with the spiritual emptiness of their lives, particularly those in the materialistic West. It is for anyone who wants to find a deeper meaning and purpose to their lives through Islam and getting closer to Allah (swt). It is also for those who want to make sense of the tragedies and catastrophes in the world and learn how to see things for how they truly are.

The diversity of topics covered means that the book will resonate with a wide variety of people. 

It is quite a deep and philosophical book so would be more suited to a mature audience. It is also not recommended for those without basic knowledge of Islam, especially due to some of the Sufi content . It is a complex book at times and we encourage the readers to engage with the ideas and not be afraid to critique and analyse them.

 

Who is the author and/or publisher?

The author is Rabia Christine Brodbeck and the publisher is Tughra Books.

 

What is the best part about this book?

Part Four, Humanity between Salvation and Destruction, is an especially profound section of the book in that it aims to recalibrate the way we understand the modern world we live in.

Another highlight is how Brodbeck skilfully redefines terms to help us re-evaulate the erroneous way in which we understand life that leads to so much stress and confusion, as she states:

“In this modern life, we have to redefine terms like free will, destiny, love, freedom, eternity, soul, spirit, heart and so on. These words are over used and therefore have become meaningless. For people who are interested in the inner realities of life, there is an absolute necessity to rediscover their true meanings and to try to incorporate them into our daily lives” (p.111)

The below is a beautiful example of how Brodbeck challenges our notions of what the ‘spiritual realm’ is:

“Islam stresses the fact that there is no separation between the mystical and the ordinary earthly life. Only in living the fullness of this earthly life on all levels can we reach the spiritual realms; taste the divine realities; and accomplish nearness to our Creator. One exercises spiritual growth in trying to be a good husband or wife; father or mother; student or teacher; good neighbour or friend; merchant or secretary; doctor or nurses; and so on… becoming a true servant is superior than becoming a saint” (p. 132).

 

 

 

You can also see here for further quotations from the book.

 

Highlights:

Some notable sections include:

• Secrecy
• The Holy Quran
• The Prophet’s Family
• Life Story
• Conversion
• On the way towards God
• Beauty Within Misery
• The Crisis in the Modern World
• Rituals
• The Giving Hand
• Beauty
• The Celebration of the Truth in the Twenty-First Century

 

You can find From the Stage to the Prayer Mat: The Story of how a World-Famous Dancer Fell in Love with the Divine at Fountain Bookshop (Melbourne) or from many online bookstores.