Love Thy Neighbor

A Muslim Doctor's Struggle for Home in Rural America

By: Ayaz Virji, Alan Eisenstock

Narrated by: Ayaz Virji

Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

A powerful true story about a Muslim doctor's service to small-town America and the hope of overcoming our country's climate of hostility and fear.

Named One of the Best Books of the Year by Publishers Weekly

In 2013, Ayaz Virji left a comfortable job at an East Coast hospital and moved to a town of 1,400 in Minnesota, feeling called to address the shortage of doctors in rural America. But in 2016, this decision was tested when the reliably blue, working-class county swung for Donald Trump. Virji watched in horror as his children faced anti-Muslim remarks at school and some of his most loyal patients began questioning whether he belonged in the community.

Virji wanted out. But in 2017, just as he was lining up a job in Dubai, a local pastor invited him to speak at her church and address misconceptions about what Muslims practice and believe. That invitation has grown into a well-attended lecture series that has changed hearts and minds across the state, while giving Virji a new vocation that he never would have expected.

In Love Thy Neighbor, Virji relates this story in a gripping, unforgettable narrative that shows the human consequences of our toxic politics, the power of faith and personal conviction, and the potential for a renewal of understanding in America's heartland.

©2019 Ayaz Virji and Alan Eisenstock (P)2019 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“So many narratives about rural America in the wake of President Donald Trump’s election have been told through the eyes of the white working class. Yet Ayaz Virji’s memoir as a Muslim doctor in small-town Minnesota offers a revealing perspective that challenges us to think more broadly about community and faith in Trump Country, where the author chronicles the conflicts between his calling to practice rural medicine and find acceptance in his religious identity.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

“Both candid and compelling, Virji's book is strong medicine for an age plagued by the ills of xenophobia, misinformation, and distrust. A courageous and necessary memoir in troubling times.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Clear-eyed.... Written in powerful vignettes that jump easily from flashback to present...Virji shows the community work he - and many others - are doing to combat a negative political climate through education and outreach. This is a vivid account of one man’s efforts to make sense of political tensions, racial hatred, and religious misunderstandings.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

This is not entertainment.

Dr Ayaz Virji tells his family story, and it broke my heart. This is an emotional listen, but it also lays out a lot of information about the Muslim faith. It gets political because we live in a politicized world, and he lays out events in a time line that reflects what was happening around his community, and in the United States in general. Don't bother listening if you have already drawn all your lines in the sand. But if you are open to hear about another faith and how our present culture affects individuals, give this a listen.

From the heart

The story shares the heartfelt reaction to various events that others might consider innocuous. They are clearly harmful. Dr. Virji reminds us that we are all human, and have a duty to each other.

Thank You, Dr. Virji, for This Book of Hope

Thank you, Dr. Ayaz Virji, for making time to write and narrate this powerful book of hope, love, peace and courage. I was fortunate to hear your outstanding "Love Thy Neighbor" presentation with Pastor Mandy at Southwest Minnesota State University. I was deeply grateful to hear your story and learn more about your Islam faith. At the time, I wished more people in our country could hear you and your story. Now, I will highly recommend your book to others, including my students and colleagues at SMSU. God bless you, your beautiful family, your medical practice, your mission of dispelling myths about Islam, of spreading love and respect.

Great story that captures complexity and nuance

Absolutely fantastic story that covers many difficult topics and tackles them with nuance and great discussion. The ending is fitting as well because it doesn't end conclusively with some neat bow around it. Theirs still a lot left to figure out.

Excellent!!

This book is so important! It puts a face and real story on the humanity of our Muslim neighbors. It calls out the pain and divisiveness of hate rhetoric that we subject ourselves to in the media. Everyone has a story to be told and to be heard. Stop speaking and start listening!

Reality: agreed and fear create hate.

I understand and felt the pain of being different. You have motivated me to be strong. Praying is the icing on the cake(action).

A must read!

An incredible and inspiring story of peace, knowledge. and love. I feel uplifted after reading.

So grateful for Ayaz Virji's willingness to share

I was deeply moved by the honesty of this personal account by Avaz Virgi as he educates rural America about Islam after the 2016 election of Donald Trump.

Excellent book

It should be required reading and discussion for all high school students. Thank you Dr Virji.

Timely information, engaging story

I loved this brave Indian Muslim doctor! His story and that of his wife and kids, settling into small town America was so engaging and heartfelt. If you are incensed by the hatred unleashed in our country by the election of Donald Trump, you will want to read his story.