This is not a problem. Americans routinely pick up books thumb through them and on occasion get lazy and place them haphazardly back in the wrong location. Naturally, I would never condone anyone purposely placing a book on the bottom shelve, when it is supposed to be at the top but things happen. If on the other hand, you have a medical condition and after stretching to get said book, you find you can’t place it back. In such a case, it is permitted to place said book anywhere your medical condition will safely let you. The floor, bottom shelve all are permitted. Just make sure your actions are not caused by hate in your heart or meant as a misguided political statement. Tolerance is the key.

Imam Ronin

Posted by: Ronin at March 30, 2006 1:35 PM

In the UK, the top shelf in a newsagent is reserved for pornography.

Posted by: Interested at March 30, 2006 1:40 PM

Dear Imam Ronin(pbuha)

What is the proper etiquette if said koran accidentally falls on the floor? Due to a faulty knee and being unable to stoop, is it proper to kick said book to the cashier for them to pick it up or should I just leave it where it falls? I checked with our local imam and he just fainted.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Freewoman

Posted by: freewoman at March 30, 2006 1:44 PM

I have trouble reading and eating a blt at the same time. Occasionally the results are messy.

Posted by: MP at March 30, 2006 1:57 PM

Well freewoman, I know you already know this but for the benefit of others less wise to the ways of islam. Placing your feet on anything is a serous insult, as is striking it with your shoe. A koran which falls and accidentally touches a shoe should be destroyed (out of respect). You also have the option of picking up another copy and reading it, as the only requirement for most religious titles is to read it. I read it and now I am an Imam, which is ironic considering I didn’t believe one word of it. I don’t mind giving religious ruling so I don’t think you should kick a muslim holy book to the cashier. Chances are good she is not a muslim and out of respect for religious tolerance I do not think she should have to stoop to pick up the koran. It is best to leave it on the floor. I don’t want to get into trouble with Robert or Hugh, so again, I do not condone dropping, kicking, moving, reading, buying, writing on or stepping over a koran. Tolerance is the key.

Imam Ronin.

Posted by: Ronin at March 30, 2006 2:01 PM

No, no, the top shelf is above the reach of most people. It's meant to protect impressionable minds from reading demonstrably harmful and obscene (by my community standards) material. The higher the better. Have you ever noticed their stacks at the sides of a Borders, the ones that are twelve feet high or so? Very appropriate place for these items.

Posted by: longtime lurker at March 30, 2006 2:08 PM

Well I went to a Borders and asked where they were stocked. I chatted the girl up at the counter, and she asked if was going to convert or do an analysis or whatever. When I told her what I was gonna use it for, she threatened to call the police and had security escort me from the store, her standing there, fists on her hips, scowling.

Had to go to another mall and send in my son to make the buy. Jeez, these Moslems really know to make an Infidel sneak around.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at March 30, 2006 2:10 PM

If there are 10,000 Jihadwatchers and everyone of them went to his bookshop regularly in order to move korans to the bottom shelf, or hide them in other part of the store I'm sure that they would be rewarded very much luck in their personal lives.

Posted by: Sebastien at March 30, 2006 2:14 PM

How many books are these muslim customers buying that Borders has to kowtow to them? Are they doing a "koran location" check every time they visit Borders?

Posted by: 3812Michelle at March 30, 2006 2:22 PM

Now that I know this I will of course be moving every Koran I see to the bottom shelf whenever I am in any bookstore. Perhaps we will be seeing the "Bookshelf Riots" next?

Posted by: Foehammer at March 30, 2006 2:31 PM

hehe, I have to ask this. Alarmed Pig Farmer, what did you tell her you were going to use it for?

Posted by: freewoman at March 30, 2006 2:33 PM

Start complaining, write a couple of letters, and shop at Barnes and Noble (Geez, theres something I never thought I would say).

There are still more of "us" then there are of "them".

Get organized, get loud, and be annoying. Thats the tactic the enemy is using and it appears to be working. I say copy what works.

Posted by: Mr Ape Pig at March 30, 2006 2:44 PM

Sigh, again I ask only for tolerance but if you must act on your evil infidel urges, why not place the koran with the cartoons? Naturally, it should be on top shelf in the fiction category.

Imam Ronin

Posted by: Ronin at March 30, 2006 2:53 PM

It's easier to reach the top shelf if you stand on a pile of Korans, too. Esposito and Armstrong books are similarly useful, but remove the dustcovers to prevent slipping. It's not necessary to remove your shoes first that way.

Posted by: longtime lurker at March 30, 2006 2:58 PM

Moving it to the top shelf of the "True Crime" section would be appropriate. Mixing it in with books on dogs would also be a valid choice.

Posted by: Master Shake at March 30, 2006 3:13 PM

So, in the Religion section, does that mean that Qur'ans have to be above Bibles, Torahs, Kabalahs, I-Chings, etc.?

Now, I'm not saying anyone should do this. But wouldn't it be funny if someone photocopied the "shocking and outrageous" (more like "bland and boring") cartoons, folded them, and slipped them between the pages of the Qur'ans at Borders? As far as I know, this would not violate any laws. I would never do this, so if you hear about this happening, it wasn't me.

Posted by: special_guest at March 30, 2006 3:28 PM

They should keep the koran in the same section with "How to Kill Infidels and Rape Their Women". Of course it would be close to the pedophilia section. And don't forget close to the how to make a bomb section. And it would be near the how to drain the host countries and slowly tear them down books. Some books with them would be "What Color is Your Burka?"

Or, can all these books just be found in the koran?

Posted by: freewoman at March 30, 2006 3:30 PM

you bet i will go to the border bokstore and place th ekorans with porno and bottom shelf. i might even drop a few in the trash cans.

Posted by: desidude at March 30, 2006 3:34 PM

you bet i will go to the border bookstore and place the korans with porno and bottom shelf. I might even drop a few in the trash cans.

Posted by: desidude at March 30, 2006 3:34 PM

Unfortunately for me, I am very clumsy and often drop things on the floor, so if I were to drop the Koran on the floor and then move it with my foot, I'm sure no one will mind.

ALARMED PIG FARMER: What did you say you were going to use the Koran for?

Posted by: Seymour Paine at March 30, 2006 3:45 PM

Sigh, again I ask only for tolerance but if you must act on your evil infidel urges, why not place the koran with the cartoons? Naturally, it should be on top shelf in the fiction category.

Imam Ronin

And whoever said that Muslims didn't have a sense of humor?

If I truly acted on my infidel urges, there'd be a lot more happening than Korans being misplaced in bookstores.

Luckily for the world I was raised a Christian and not a Muslim.

Posted by: Foehammer at March 30, 2006 3:52 PM

You can contact Borders at ccare@bordersstores.com.

I sent them the following:

I've noticed in a few of your stores that the Koran is on the top shelf in the religion section.

I think this is very wrong. The Bible should be on the top shelf, shouldn't it?

It is older; everything is based on it. Christians believe it is the word of God.

Please let me know when you plan on rectifying this situation.

Posted by: Seymour Paine at March 30, 2006 3:56 PM

Foehammer, we should all be Imams, just read the koran and claim the title, issue fatwas on anything and everything. You just have to see that everything upsets muslims and you are in the club. According to thier book, you recite the shahada three times and wham you are a muslim. According to my book, God will forgive me when I switch back. I realise that will make me an apostate and the other imams will order my death, sigh, no tolerance. Actually, I don't see how it will change much they don't like me now.

Imam Ronin

Posted by: Ronin at March 30, 2006 4:20 PM

"When I told her what I was gonna use it for, she threatened to call the police and had security escort me from the store, her standing there, fists on her hips, scowling."

Are you joking Pig Farmer? You have the right to do whatever you want with a book once it's your property, don't you?

Posted by: Lili at March 30, 2006 4:37 PM

1st post here. My wife just checked out Borders and the Koran is on the top shelf. (12 or 13 copies) The Bible had literally hundreds of different editions on many, many shelves, including it's own top shelf.

U.F.O.

Posted by: U.F.O. at March 30, 2006 4:40 PM

My religion demands that i drop violent, distasteful, hateful books on the floor or burn them. so it's in my religious rights to drop the koran. just as jews have rights to drop Mein Kamph and the christians have right to drop satanic bibles.

Posted by: desidude at March 30, 2006 4:54 PM

In stead of doing silly things just say you need the Koran to look up the verses where it says to kill the unbelievers then say why are you stocking a book that advocates murder? I"M going to a Borders find the verses and then take them to the cashier saying this is hateful please I do not want to be killed take the book away I'm afraid.

Posted by: mark52 at March 30, 2006 5:12 PM

Imam Ronin,

I have read your fatwas and declare you a mushrikin, no I take that fatwa back and declare you a mushroom.

Most of these so-called Qurans at borders are in English! Do you not understand that the truth is only in Arabic? All of these blasphemous books should be destroyed.

I issue a fatwa demanding that Borders stop carrying any book in English or any other kafir language. All their books must be only in Arabic. You must as a good Muslim insist on this.

Imam Provo

Posted by: Provoslavni at March 30, 2006 5:12 PM

WOW. Thats lame. The next time I'm in a Borders bookstore... I'm going to go find the Korans and move them to the WAR section.

Posted by: Avatar at March 30, 2006 5:14 PM

Desidude,

Now thats an idea... Get all their copies of Mein Kampf and the Satanic Bible (Borders has both) and take them to the Islam section and put them on the top shelf right next to the Qurans. You could also add a few copies of "The Joy of Gay Sex" and some books on black magic.

Posted by: Provoslavni at March 30, 2006 5:17 PM

I recently saw at a Borders store a magazine for sale on the rack titled "Islamica" -- which I did NOT open. I'm still in a state of horror...

Posted by: pythagoras at March 30, 2006 5:22 PM

Hey, Ronin and Provo, can I be an Imam????

I'm mouthy and can issue fatwas.

Posted by: freewoman at March 30, 2006 5:35 PM

The koran is the direct word of allah, and should not be in proximity to any other book. Each copy should be moved to a special small room at borders, and carefully placed in one of several white porcelain shrines and then annointed with golden water.

Posted by: Infidel33 at March 30, 2006 5:41 PM

Well would purchasing an ad in the classifieds of newspapers indicating at what web sites the comics can be seen be helpful/?

Posted by: mark52 at March 30, 2006 5:42 PM

freewoman-

You can be an "imamma".

Presto!

Now, Fatwa away!

__________________________________________________

I issued one a while back on a Muslim chat site:

"THE MURDER FATWA:

All Muslims who believe in killing for religion are thereby apostates."

(And, using their own acute Islamic logic, they must then be killed. By their own.)

But that's the way the fatwa fumbles.

Posted by: profitsbeard at March 30, 2006 6:44 PM

I appreciate the Borders email address, but an old-fashioned snail mail usually makes a greater impact. Here are Borders' HQ address and phone no.:

Borders Group, Inc
Unverified listing
500 E Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI
(734) 477-1100

Also, Amazon.com is part of the Borders Group, so please tell Borders you will no longer shop at Amazon, either. I find www.bn.com to be as good as Amazon as far as what they have in stock (and their shipping is slightly cheaper, too). Unfortunately, I bought one of Mr. Spencer's texts and Ms. Fallaci's latest from Amazon before I knew about this!

Posted by: kaffirchick at March 30, 2006 6:46 PM

ALARMED PIG FARMER: What did you say you were going to use the Koran for?

Well, I can't say exactly cuz, like the Borders people, I don't wanna die.

But, I can tell you this much: We all know how much people, especially dudes, like to read on the commode, and keep magazines and books on the bathroom stand. Well, I keep a Koran there along with a pair of box cutters (sweet irony ;^) and that doggoned book has been shrinking page-by-page, one page per day.

WHERE ARE MY MOSLEMS MY SCOWLERS MY WHINERS YOU CHEATS WHERE'S MO

When I went in to see the doctor about my itching and bleeding problems, he diagnosed hemmorhoids. As he was taking off his latex gloves, I saw him roll his eyes. I know what he was thinking, and I tell you it wasn't that. I'm not into that stuff. What other folks do in privacy of their own homes is none a my beeswax, but not me.

I'm working down my 2nd book now. It still hurts, but not as much cuz I found a publisher who uses very soft stock, onion paper almost.

Posted by: Alarmed Pig Farmer at March 30, 2006 8:17 PM

I know of a case where the pupils in a London school, predominantly attended by muslim pupils, where the koran was placed higher than any other book in the library, including the bible, as result of complaints from some of them. The librarian asked a mullah from the local mosque about it when he visited the school and his view was that it was only necessary when the koran was in arabic, as translations were not really the koran at all. Also ladies should not touch it at a certain time of the month. I sometimes wonder if public libraries ever have this problem.

Posted by: wallyUK at March 30, 2006 8:50 PM

BULLS**T ALERT... BULLS**T ALERT... BULLS**T ALERT...

It may be the policy of "A" Borders, or even "some" Borders. It is not the policy "of Borders"... I visited one tonight and on the set of shelves that held the Queer-an, the top TWO shelves were Kaballahs and other Judiac mystical stuff.

As for that bible thumper up there, who whined:

I think this is very wrong. The Bible should be on the top shelf, shouldn't it? It is older; everything is based on it. Christians believe it is the word of God.

If we want the oldest book on top, that would be the Hindu Bhagavad Gita and/or Mahabharat. And the Buddha sutras would be above the New Testament.

KJ

Posted by: kj at March 30, 2006 9:50 PM

you bet i will go to the border bookstore and place the korans with porno and bottom shelf. I might even drop a few in the trash cans. Posted by: desidude

desidude

Better idea - take them to the toilet, and place them beside the commode. Leave them there. Try not to get caught, or you may be forced to buy them (a la George Costanza). But once they are there, they will be unsellable. At the same time, they will be at the most appropriate place.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at March 30, 2006 11:02 PM

kj

The Ramayana was older. Actually, the oldest in Hinduism was Manu's Smritis. I dunno whether that's the record holder as far as all religious books go.

However, I thought the Bible thumper was writing tongue in cheek: Christians don't seem to make the sort of fuss over this that Mohammedans do.

Posted by: Infidel Pride at March 30, 2006 11:09 PM

Bookmarks. If one knew the koran well enough, adding bookmarks labelled 'beat your wife', 'murder infidels' etc. in the appropriate places could be useful.

Posted by: Lili at March 31, 2006 12:37 AM

I'm glad to see you have the right ideas, Pig Farmer, especially making proper and respectful use of the Koran.

You might be happy to know that I'm working on my line of Koranic toilet paper. Each sheet has a section of Koran.

I'll be taking orders for them soon.

(P.S.: there will be a line of Hadith toilet paper as well, and later on, a line of tampons.)

Regards,
Seymour Paine

Posted by: Seymour Paine at March 31, 2006 9:08 AM

You guys are all cracking me up!

It's good to have a laugh, despite the reality of why this board exists.

Thanks to all....

Posted by: Vee at March 31, 2006 9:38 AM

Again, I won't be buying any books from thwarters (of freedom of speech) I mean borders, or the other store, walden whatever.

Posted by: mustang65 at March 31, 2006 11:25 AM

Alarmed pig farmer; did you tell her you ran out of toilet tissue? cause I just ran out and am making my way to borders.

Posted by: mustang65 at March 31, 2006 11:37 AM

Freewoman;

Yes, you too can be an Imam, but your fatwas will be only worth half as much as a man's.

So you must issue twice as many fatwas calling for the deaths of twice as many infidels. Remember Allah is merciful, compassionate, and always irritated at somebody.

Imam Provo

Posted by: Provoslavni at March 31, 2006 12:08 PM

And he's usually aggravated at women. But I'll do my best as Imama, to issue the best fatwa's I can.

Posted by: freewoman at March 31, 2006 12:44 PM

[i]I don’t mind giving religious ruling so I don’t think you should kick a muslim holy book to the cashier. Chances are good she is not a muslim and out of respect for religious tolerance I do not think she should have to stoop to pick up the koran.[/i]

Hey ronin, who the F are you to talk about religious tolerance? How many churches are in Saudi land? Oh yea, and how many want to kill the Christian convert?

A good idea is to put pieces of bacon in the corrans in the bookstore. watch the muzzies go nuts!!

Posted by: F-isslum at March 31, 2006 3:04 PM

My dear Imam Ronin:

Many thank yous for compassionate and merciful post you make on this subject. I be having questions for book management.

Please is acceptable to take many Korans from shelf at same time? Can be permitted these to carry to clerk for purchase at once? Only there to find that one has no money or old credit card?

What be happen if clerk must put Korans back on shelf? Take time of clerk and make manager of store angry? Is jewish plot? Is manager knowing Korans causing trouble? Is customer telling manager no buying in future no more?

What be happen if clerk be told each Koran must have own shelf, not be pushed together like so many pigs in infidel stye?

Is making protest by infidel with many books harmful to islam? Is infidel get fatwa for taking books to clerk and then not any be buying?

Is killing infidel for touching Koran or taking many Korans to clerk help in jihad? Can I help in killing infidel please?

Peace and tolerance. Thanking you for reply now.

Posted by: texan at March 31, 2006 10:14 PM

Infidel33: ". . . carefully placed in one of several white porcelain shrines and then annointed with golden water."

Thanks. That's the best laugh I've had in several days.

Posted by: texan at March 31, 2006 10:26 PM