When I began reading From the Stage to the Prayer Mat by Rabia Christine Brodbeck, I expected it to be an autobiography, with its main context the life story of the author. Instead, I soon found that it was much more than that.While there are a few chapters about the author’s personal life, it is largely an incredibly lovely explanation of the beauty of Islam and what it means to be Muslim. And beyond that, the author, who was a famous modern dancer born in Switzerland, explains how her being an artist relates to her falling in love with Islam.

The first part of the book, titled “Wonder and Admiration for Prophet Muhammad,” is a description of why Brodbeck and countless others are in awe of the Prophet Muhammad. She explains many fundamental principles of Islam so clearly and beautifully that you understand immediately what she means. When you read her loving language you can see that she has experienced a sort of religious rebirth. The second part of the book, called “The Dance of Life,” begins with a chapter about how she came to find and accept Islam. Having been raised in Switzerland by a Catholic family but never really believing deeply in any religion, Brodbeck grew up to become a famous modern dancer. But while in New York, where she was performing, she and her friends visited a mosque, and she immediately felt an intense connection. In this chapter she describes the discovery of a teacher who helped her find her religious path. The next few chapters are filled with wisdom gained from her experiences, from the enormity of experiencing a religious rebirth to how all of existence is united as one. The third part of the book, “The Sacredness of the Human Being,” explains why humans are so important to God and vice versa, discussing the nature of mankind in relation to the Prophet Adam, how God created people out of pure love, and the balance of the soul and the body. The fourth and final section is called “Humanity between Salvation and Destruction” and discusses the present spiritual state of the world and how people can save themselves and others through acceptance, unity, spirituality and love.

From the Stage to the Prayer Mat is a work of art in itself, filled with adoration and wisdom. Brodbeck says in the introduction to the book, “I write because the source of existence is love, I write because I just followed my need, I write because using the pen does not mean writing for me….” She feels that she is carrying out God’s messages through her writing—her art—and that is the message and purpose of this book. I thought I knew the basics of Islam before I read this book, but now I realize I knew almost nothing about it. If you want to learn more about the religion, I highly recommend this book. Its principles are complex but explained in such a way that you see their simplicity, and it really helps you to understand the core of the religion. It is slow reading, but well worth the time it takes to read it.