From MTV to Mecca: How Islam Inspired My Life

In the early 1990s Kristiane Backer was one of the very first presenters on MTV Europe. For some years she lived and breathed the international music scene, quickly gaining a cult following amongst viewers and becoming a darling of the European press. As she reached the pinnacle of her success she realized that, despite having all she could have wished for, she was never truly satisfied. Something very important was missing.

A fateful meeting with Pakistani cricket hero Imran Khan changed her life. He invited her to his country where she encountered a completely different world to the one she knew, the religion and culture of Islam. In place of pop and rock stars she was meeting men and women whose lives were dominated by the love of God and who cared very little for the brief glories of this world. She began to read the Quran and to study books about the Faith. A few years later, after travelling more widely in the Islamic world and knowing that she had discovered her spiritual path, she embraced Islam in a London mosque. And then her real adventures began.

In this very personal memoir Kristiane Backer tells the story of her conversion and explains how faith, despite the many challenges she faced, has given her inner peace and the meaning she sought.

‘I admire Kristiane for her strength of conviction to walk a different path and follow her heart. Rock ’n’ roll has taken many of its participants down a variety of paths. This is the story of one of the more unusual ones. From MTV to Mecca? From babe to burka is more like it!’ - Bob Geldof

‘I am glad I had the chance to introduce Kristiane to the culture and religion of Islam. She not only loved the sacred music and the desi food but had an open mind to study and look beyond the headlines. I admire the sincerity with which she continued to discover the faith for herself and her steadfastness in practicing. This book will inspire Muslims and non-Muslims alike. May Allah bless her and give her all success’ -Imran Khan

‘A spirited woman's journey towards the Light’ - Tariq Ramadan