COMBINATION OF [1] THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO BOOK OF DANIEL,  [2]  THE JABOTICABA A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD:.   With the Scripture of the Day first.  (6B)

[1]  SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [555B]

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.  Proverbs 29:25,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Stay loyal to Almighty God (YHWH), and put not your trust in mankind, nor seek the favors of strong individuals in this world as warned against at Hebrews 10:30, [AV] “Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.”

All who are loyal to the Prince of Peace, Jesus (Yeshua) will suffer reproach and persecution as foretold at Hebrews 10:33 – 39, [AV] “Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.  34  For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.  35  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.  36  For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37  For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 8 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have n pleasure in him.  39  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but o them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

VIEW VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO BOOK OF DANIEL, CLICK:
https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-daniel/

[2]JABOTICABA
Myrciaria spp.
Myrtaceae
Common Names: Jaboticaba, Jabuticaba, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabara, Ybapuru
Species: Myrciaria cauliflora Berg., M. jaboticaba Berg., M. tenella Berg., M. trunciflora Berg.

Related Species: Guavaberry, Rumberry (Myrciaria floribunda), Yellow Jaboticaba (M. glomerata), Camu-camu (M. paraensis). Blue Grape (M. vexator).
Distant affinity: Eugenias (Eugenia spp.), Feijoa (Feijoa sellowiana), Guavas (Psidium spp.).
Origin: All four of the jaboticaba species are native to the Minas Gerais region of Brazil. Some are also indigenous to other parts of Brazil, as well as areas in Bolivia, Paraguay, northeastern Argentina, Uruguay and Peru. In Brazil jaboticabas are cultivated from the southern city of Rio Grande to Bahia, and from the seacoast to Goyaz and Matto Grosso in the west. It was introduced into California (at Santa Barbara) about 1904.
Adaptation: In Brazil jaboticabas grow from sea-level to elevations of more than 3,000 ft. Different plants vary markedly in how much frost they can take without severe damage, probably reflecting the species that a given plant belongs to. Some plants can take 24° F or lower and survive; others are damaged at 27° F. In 1917, a young tree at Brooksville, Florida survived a temperature drop to 18° F. with only the foliage and branches killed back. In California jaboticabas have been successfully grown in San Diego, Spring Valley, Bostonia, Encinitas, South Los Angeles and as far north as the San Jose and San Francisco Bay areas. The plant makes a suitable container specimen.
DESCRIPTION
Growth Habit: The jaboticaba is a slow growing large shrub or small, bushy tree. It reaches a height of 10 - 15 feet in California and 12 - 45 feet in Brazil, depending on the species. The trees are profusely branched, beginning close to the ground and slanting upward and outward so that the dense, rounded crown may attain an ultimate spread as wide as it is tall. The thin, beige to reddish bark flakes off much like that of the guava. The jaboticaba makes an attractive landscape plant.
Foliage: The evergreen, opposite leaves are lanceolate to elliptic, 1 - 4 inches in length and 1/2 - 3/4 inch wide. In color they are a glossy dark green with a leathery texture. The size, shape and texture varies somewhat from one species to another.
Flowers: The small yellow-white flowers dramatically emerge from the multiple trunks, limbs and large branches in groups of four. It has been reported from Brazil that solitary jaboticaba trees bear poorly compared with those planted in groups, which indicates that cross-pollination enhances productivity.
Fruits: Jaboticaba fruit is grape-like in appearance and texture but with a thicker, tougher skin. Most California fruit is dark purple to almost black in color. Averages size is one inch in diameter but can run from 3/4 to 1-1/2 inches, depending on species and variety. The gelatinous whitish pulp contains from one to four small seeds and has a pleasant, subacid flavor markedly similar to certain muscadine grapes. The skin has a slight resinous flavor that is not objectionable. Fruit may be produced singly or in clusters from the ground up all over the trunk and main branches, and the plant may fruit up to five times per year. Fresh fruit is delicious eaten out-of-hand and can be made into jellies, jams and wine. The skin is high in tannin and should not be consumed in large quantities over a long period of time.
CULTURE
Location: Jaboticaba trees are will take full sun or some shade and are small enough fit into many parts of the garden landscape. They are fairly wind tolerant but do not like salty sea air. Small, young trees do best with some protection.
Soil: Jaboticabas grow and fruit best in rich deep soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Although it is not well adapted to alkaline soils, it may be grown successfully by mulching and applying necessary nutrient sprays containing iron. The tree is not tolerant of salty or poorly drained soil. It has grown and borne well on sand in Central Florida.
Fertilization: For young plants half ratio fertilizer at monthly intervals will speed the plant's very slow growth rate. Any well-balanced fertilizer applied three times per year will keep the plant healthy. Because of its shallow root system, it is suggested that a series of small holes be dug and filled with organic material around the plant's base. The organic material can contain a balanced fertilizer which will be released during irrigation.
Irrigation: Water should be supplied as needed to maintain good soil moisture and prevent wilting, but constant flooding is undesirable. As the root system is somewhat shallow, irrigation is usually required when the upper inch or two of soil become dry.
Pruning: Pruning of jaboticabas is not usually needed, but when pruned as a hedge, the fruit is not destroyed since it is formed only on the inner branches and trunk.
Frost Protection: Although Jaboticabas can tolerate a few degrees of frost, they do best under frost-free conditions. In areas where frost may be a problem, providing them with some overhead protection or planting them next to a wall or a building may be sufficient. The smallish plants are also fairly easy to cover during cold snaps by placing carpeting, plastic sheeting, etc. over a frame around them. Potted specimens can be moved to a frost-secure area.
Propagation: Most seeds are polyembryonic, producing a plant that is true or close to the parent plant. The seeds germinate in about one month. A suggested potting mixture is 2 parts peat, 2 parts coarse sand and 1 part coarse perlite, wood shavings or compost. Selected strains can be reproduced by inarching (approach grafting) or air-layering. Budding is not easily accomplished because of the thinness of the bark and the hardness of the of the wood. Veneer or side grafts are fairly successful. The grafted plant will fruit considerably earlier than a seedling. One may expect a grafted plant to produce fruit within three years, It can take from 8 to 15 years for a seedling to mature into a fruiting tree. It is this very slow growth that has kept this plant from becoming as popular as it deserves to be. Grafting older trees over to a different variety is inadvisable because it is the trunk and inner branches which produce the fruit. One would have to cut the tree back to a one-inch stump in order to change its fruiting nature.
When planting a jaboticaba, the crown (uppermost) roots should be 2 to 3 inches higher than the surrounding soil levels to provide water runoff. Peat, compost or rotted manure may be mixed with the soil from the planting hole to improve it. The soil should be a well-aerated mixture.
Pests and diseases: The fruit and flowers of some varieties are susceptible to a fungus caused rust during wet periods. Many flowers may desiccate during dry periods. Birds, raccoons and opossums are all attracted to fruiting trees. Deer will sometimes browse on the new foliage, but jaboticaba roots are not particularly attractive to gophers.
Harvest: Jaboticaba fruits are ready to harvest when they have developed a full color and are somewhat soft like a ripe grape. They are mostly eaten out-of-hand in South America. By squeezing the fruit between the thumb and forefinger, one can cause the skin to split and the pulp to slip into the mouth. The peeled fruits are often used for making jelly and marmalade, with the addition of pectin. Jaboticaba wine is made to a limited extent in Brazil.
Commercial Potential: Jaboticabas are a significant commercial fruit in Brazil and to a limited extent in other parts of South America where they thrive. They are a very tasty fresh fruit, and if they were more plentiful and were properly promoted, they could have a commercial future in this country. Their relative frost sensitivity combined with their slowness to fruit from seedlings is a major drawback to commercial success.
[SOURCE = RETRIVED FROM  https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/jaboticaba.html    ON   11/05/ 2019]

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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND  A VIDEO ON THE BOOK OF HOSEA,  [2]    DISCOURSE ON THE SUBJECT OF ADULTERY:

[1]   SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [556B]

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  20  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  21  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.   Romans 12:18 – 21, [authorized King James Bible; AV]

As brought out in Psalms 139:6, [AV] “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”  But we can rely on Almighty God (YHWH) to do all that He says as testified to at Psalms 36:6, [AV] “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”  His thought are not our thoughts as revealed at 1 Corinthians 2:16, [AV] “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”  But all believers per Ephesians 4:7, [AV] “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.”  Yes, it is by Ephesians 2:8, [AV] “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”  And 1 Corinthians 12:12, [AV] “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

VIEW A VIDEO ON THE BOOK OF HOSEA, CLICK: https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-hosea/

[2]    DISCOURSE ON THE SUBJECT OF ADULTERY:

INTRODUCTION:

Today many do NOT consider adultery a major wrong, but these ones willfully forget that in the covenant, Mosaic Law, that God (YHWH), the party of the first part, concluded with Moses (Mosche) and the Israelite nation, the party of the second part, adultery was prohibited and series penalties were prescribed. This clearly shows that God (YHWH) took very seriously the principle he set forth in Genesis at Genesis 2:23-24, "and the man saith, `This `is' the `proper' step! bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh!' for this it is called Woman, for from a man hath this been taken; 24 therefore doth a man leave his father and his mother, and hath cleaved unto his wife, and they have become one flesh. " (Young's Literal Translation; YLT). Clearly showing that from the beginning God (YHWH) intended man to have one wife and stick with her and not go out and have relations with other women and for the wife to do likewise. This was emphasized by the statement, "they have become one flesh." Therefore, adultery would be willful disobedience with respect to God's (YHWH's) original purpose for mankind.

WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ON ADULTERY:

What is Adultery?

Adultery, as used in the Bible, generally refers to voluntary sexual intercourse by a married person with one of the opposite gender other than one's mate, or, during the time that the Mosaic Law was in effect, any such intercourse by any man with a married or a betrothed women. Let's consider the ancient Hebrew root meaning of 'commit adultery' which is 'na'sph',' and its Koine Greek counterpart is 'moi-dheu'a' as used at Ezekiel 16:32, "A wife that committeth adultery! that taketh strangers instead of her husband!" (American Standard Version; ASV), and Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV).

Of course the pagan nations around about the nation of ancient Israel did not subscribe to a high moral code and indulged freely in many cases in promiscuity as shown in the history of adultery as found in the Funk & Wagnalls Standard Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legend (1949, Volume 1, page 15, says, "It occurs in all parts of the world and though it is considered reprehensible by many cultures it has enjoyed a considerable popularity in all cultures and at all times." This was shown in the Bible with respect the attempted seduction of Joseph by the wife of Potiphar as recorded at Genesis 39:7-10, "And it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, `Lie with me;' 8 and he refuseth, and saith unto his lord's wife, `Lo, my lord hath not known what `is' with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand; 9 none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.' 10 And it cometh to pass at her speaking unto Joseph day `by' day, that he hath not hearkened unto her, to lie near her, to be with her;" (YLT). Historically as well as at present, adultery is generally forbidden, but penalties are seldom imposed.

God's (YHWH's) Law Separates Ancient Israel:

However God's (YHWH's) law separated Israel from the pagan nations and raised the moral status of marriage and family life to a much higher plain than that of the surrounding nations. In fact, the Seventh Commandment of the Decalogue stated in clear, unmistakable language at Exodus 20:14, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT); and at Deuteronomy 5:18, "`Thou dost not commit adultery." (YLT). This commandment was NOT done away with when Jesus (Yeshua) Christ instituted the new covenant as clearly shown at Luke 18:20, "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and mother." (ASV). Clearly showing that to present from the beginning that adultery was prohibited by God (YHWH) and went against his intended purpose for mankind.

Law Covenant:

Under the Law Covenant that God (YHWH) made with Moses (Mosche) and the ancient nation of Israel the penalty for adultery was severe; to wit, death for both guilty parties. This is recorded at Deuteronomy 22:22-24, "If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then they shall both of them die, the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away the evil from Israel. 23 If there be a damsel that is a virgin betrothed unto a husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her; 24 then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them to death with stones; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so thou shalt put away the evil from the midst of thee." (ASV). Under this Law Covenant, if a wife was suspected of adultery she had to stand trial per Numbers 5:11-32, "And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, 13 and a man lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, and she be not taken in the act; 14 and the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled: or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled: 15 then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and shall bring her oblation for her, the tenth part of an ephah of barley meal; he shall pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon; for it is a meal-offering of jealousy, a meal-offering of memorial, bringing iniquity to remembrance. 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before Jehovah: 17 and the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel; and of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle the priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before Jehovah, and let the hair of the woman's head go loose, and put the meal-offering of memorial in her hands, which is the meal-offering of jealousy: and the priest shall have in his hand the water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 19 And the priest shall cause her to swear, and shall say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou have not gone aside to uncleanness, being under thy husband, be thou free from this water of bitterness that causeth the curse. 20 But if thou have gone aside, being under thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband: 21 then the priest shall cause the woman to swear with the oath of cursing, and the priest shall say unto the woman, Jehovah make thee a curse and an oath among thy people, when Jehovah doth make thy thigh to fall away, and thy body to swell; 22 and this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels, and make thy body to swell, and thy thigh to fall away. And the woman shall say, Amen, Amen. 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out into the water of bitterness: 24 and he shall make the woman drink the water of bitterness that causeth the curse; and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter. 25 And the priest shall take the meal-offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the meal-offering before Jehovah, and bring it unto the altar: 26 and the priest shall take a handful of the meal-offering, as the memorial thereof, and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall make the woman drink the water. 27 And when he hath made her drink the water, then it shall come to pass, if she be defiled, and have committed a trespass against her husband, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her `and become' bitter, and her body shall swell, and her thigh shall fall away: and the woman shall be a curse among her people. 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed. 29 This is the law of jealousy, when a wife, being under her husband, goeth aside, and is defiled; 30 or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon a man, and he is jealous of his wife; then shall he set the woman before Jehovah, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 And the man shall be free from iniquity, and that woman shall bear her iniquity." (ASV). This requirement and God's (YHWH's) unique enforcement of it is no longer in force.

True Christians are not under the Mosaic Law:

While true Christians are not under the Mosaic Law, they are required to refrain from adultery. This is shown at Romans 13:8-:9, "Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." (ASV); and at Romans 2:22, "thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou rob temples?" (ASV).

In teaching Bible principles, Jesus (Yeshua) raised the moral standard still higher for true Christians, his footstep followers. He broadened out the matter of adultery, saying it was not limited to sexual contact a man might have with a woman not his mate, but to wrong desire one may have for another as shown at Matthew 5:27-28, "Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28 but I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (ASV); and at 2 Peter 2:14, "They want to look at nothing else but immoral women; their appetite for sin is never satisfied. They lead weak people into a trap. Their hearts are trained to be greedy. They are under God's curse!" (The New Testament in Today's English Version; TEV).

In fact, Jesus (Yeshua) pointed out that the only scriptural grounds for divorce was fornication, Koine Greek 'por-nei'a', which is adultery and deviant sexual behavior. The remarriage of either mate who divorced on grounds other than fornication would constitute adultery. Even a single man who took such a divorced women as his wife would be guilty of adultery as testified to at Matthew 5:32, "but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and Matthew 19:9, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Mark 10:11-12, "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her: 12 and if she herself shall put away her husband, and marry another, she committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Luke 16:18, "Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery." (ASV); and at Romans 7:2-3, "For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband. 3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man." (ASV).

Adultery is a Sin Against God (YHWH):

Adultery is actually a sin against God (YHWH) our creator, and this is clearly shown at Genesis 39:9, "none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'" (YLT). This should NOT be taken lightly as God (YHWH) shall judge those guilty of adultery and deviant sex, and none who persist in such a course will per Malachi 3:5, "And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner `from his right', and fear not me, saith Jehovah of hosts." (ASV); and 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, "Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God." (ASV); and Hebrews 13:4, "`Let' marriage `be' had in honor among all, and `let' the bed `be' undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge." (ASV).

How true Proverbs 6:32-35, "He who committeth adultery `with' a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it." (YLT). In fact, in a spiritual sense, adultery denotes unfaithfulness to God (YHWH) on the part of those who are joined to him in a covenant. Natural ancient Israel in the Law Covenant was, therefore, guilty of spiritual adultery because of deviant sex practices, including fornication/adultery, and false religious practices, some of which included sex-worship rites and the blatant disregard of the Seventh Commandment. This was brought out at Jeremiah 3:8-9, "And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot. 9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 5:7-8, "How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots' houses. 8 They were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor's wife." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 9:2, "Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men." (ASV); and at Jeremiah 13:27, "I have seen thine abominations, even thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, on the hills in the field. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! thou wilt not be made clean; how long shall it yet be?" (ASV); and at Hosea 7:4, "They are all adulterers; they are as an oven heated by the baker; he ceaseth to stir `the fire', from the kneading of the dough, until it be leavened." (ASV).

CONCLUSION:

For similar reasons to those of the prophets of old, Jesus (Yeshua) denounce as adulterous the generation of the Jews of his day as testified to at Matther 12:39, "But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet:" (ASV); and at Mark 8:38, "If, then, a man is ashamed of me and of my teaching in this godliness and wicked day, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." (TEV). As James 4:4 states, "Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God." (ASV).

Clearly then, since the Nation of Ancient Israel had concluded a covenant with him, Almighty God (YHWH) clearly had every right to expect that they should live up to it, and to impose severe sanctions for its violation. This being especially so since adultery is actually a sin against him.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT   WWW.JW.ORG

LEARN WHY THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD AND RELIABLE, AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH IN GOD’S WORD:  https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODBibleMedia/pub-jwbcov21_4_VIDEO




COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND VIEW  A VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF OBADIAH[2]    GOD'S VIEWS ON DEVIANT SEX AND OUTCOMES IN THE PRESENT

[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [559B]

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  Matthew 24:21,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

And those coming out of the great tribulation are as per John’s question, Revelation 7:13 – 15, [AV] “And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  15  Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.” And Daniel 12:1, [AV] “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” 

VIEW VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF OBEDIAH, CLICK:  https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/obadiah-introduction

[2]       GOD'S VIEWS ON DEVIANT SEX AND OUTCOMES IN THE PRESENT

Bad moral upbringing results in crime, disrespect for the rights of others, and an ever spiraling down quality of life for all, this must change if society is to survive, good moral role models must be a top priority. This was highlighted in several articles in The Palm Beach Post with respect priests, ministers, rabbis, and bishops who sexually abused children. One article, "Vatican struggles with issue of suspected pedophile priest," Sunday, January 13, 2002, clearly details how many who we look to for moral guidance are themselves morally bankrupt. This is a dysfunctional situation that we should NOT let continue, i.e., organizations and their leaders that should be active in combating or ameliorating this disastrous trend are in many cases contributing to it. The police, charitable organizations, and the churches should be in the forefront with respect to stopping and reversing this downward spiral toward complete moral bankruptcy, but unfortunately in many cases are doing just the opposite

This over emphasis on sex in modern society is the root cause behind many of the maladies afflicting our modern world, such as:

1. The AIDS/HIV epidemic.
2. The overpopulation serious situation existing in many countries.
3. Street children who have been tossed out and abandoned through the world.
4. Prostitution.
5. Unnatural sex perversion such as pedophiliasm, sex between members of the same sex, sex with animals, etc.
6. Slave trade in women for sexual purposes.
7. Sexually explicit material for minors.
8. Rapes.
9. Love triangle murders.
10. Lack of true neighborly love and fellow felling among many in the modern world.

The Greatest Plague Ever on Mankind:

First the "high-road" approach: With respect another very serious matter, the world wide plague of AIDS; this plague could quickly be stopped from acquiring new victims by living one's life in harmony with God's requirements. However, many nations and people seem to be looking in all the wrong places for answers such as medical science, when the answer to eliminating this plague is simple. It is, stop deviant and out-of- marriage sexual behavior. Homosexual conduct is condemned by God's word the Holy Bible and should be recognized as an unacceptable life style just as other deviant sex practices such as child sexual molestation are. Also, practices such as adultery and pre-marital sex are condemned.

To use a President W. Clinton era cliché, inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching is the cause of Mankind's Greatest Plague Ever, AIDS. If it were not for widespread inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching there would NOT BE ANY PLAGUE OF AIDS. Even those AIDS cases contacted from unclean needles and body fluids are the once or more removed results of inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching as are most other sexually transmitted diseases. It is not a question of "safer sex," the development of vaccines, etc. as these are only the superficial treatment of this plague; whereas, the root cause is as just mentioned, inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching. This plague and others like it will only truly be defeated when the root cause is eradicated; let's face reality/facts.

If God's condemnation of all these deviant sexual practices was respected, our society would not be plagued by the greatest disease plague of all times, AIDS, today, nor by all the other sexually transmitted diseases such as Hepatitis 'B,' 'C,' Genital Herpes, etc. Many nations in Africa say they do not know how to control the spread of AIDS, but the answer is simple, stop practicing deviant sex, adultery, and pre-marital sex, i.e., remain chaste.

Today many immoral things are practiced by a great number of people, but this widespread committing of wickedness does not make it any less wrong. In fact, this condition, now existing, was foretold long ago in the Holy Bible at 2nd. Timothy 3:1-5 which reads as follows, "Do not forget this: there will be terrible times in the last days...Men will be lovers of self...They will be treacherous, reckless, pompous, lovers of pleasure rather than of God as they make a pretense of religion but negate its power..." (NAB). Immorality in its many forms is unlike other sins in that it is a sin against one's own body as shown at I Corinthians 6:18-19, "...Every other sin a man commits is outside his body, but the fornicator sins against his own body...(NAB). In fact, the truth that fornication is a sin against one's body can readily be seen from recent medical reports even without recourse to the Bible, God's written instructions for us. Specifically, reports about many types of diseases transmitted by illicit sexual relationships of various forms such as sodomy and adultery are much in the news. Who has not heard of AIDS, Herpes, Gonorrhea, etc. that plague homosexuals and other promiscuous individuals? Thus, obviously all forms of illicit sexual relationships, homosexual or heterosexual, are indeed sins against one's own body.

All forms of illicit sexual relationships are clearly works of the flesh and the Apostle Paul said, "Now the work of the flesh are...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness..." (Galatians 6:18-19 per KJV). God does not view these unclean "works" of the flesh with pleasure no matter who may endorse them be he/she a high governmental official, a church leader, a community leader, or a common citizen. These works remain condemned by God as shown by the Apostle Paul at I Corinthians 6:9-10, "Know ye...the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God...be not deceived: neither fornicators,...nor adulteress, nor effeminate,...shall inherit the Kingdom of God." (KJV). In fact is plainly recorded that God will judge all fornicators at Hebrews 13:4 which reads, "...God himself will judge those who traffic in the bodies of others or defile the relationship of marriage." (TNTMB). This fact that God will punish those who practice illicit sexual relationships is made very clear by his actions in the past as shown by his destruction of the inhabitants of ancient Sodom for the practice of homosexuality which now is also known as Sodomy due to the well known sinful practice of homosexuality among the inhabitants of ancient Sodom. Their sinful practice of homosexuality was so salient that Moses wrote at Genesis 14:13 under God's inspiration, "...the inhabitants of Sodom were very wicked in the sins they committed against the Lord." (NAB). Their evil practice of sodomy was so flagrant they even tried to have homosexual relationships with materialized angles of God as recorded at Genesis 19:1-7, "The two Angles reached Sodom in the evening...Before they went to bed, all the townsmen of Sodom,...closed in on the house. They called to Lot and said to him, 'Where are the men who came to your house tonight? Bring them out to us that we may have intimacies with them.'" (NAB). Because of their wicked action God destroyed the Sodomites as recorded at Genesis 19:24, "Then the Lord rained upon Sodom...brimstone and fire...out of heaven;" (KJV).

In fact, God so detested the practice of homosexuality (sodomy), including marriages of same gender individuals, he not only destroyed Sodom, but caused several Bible writers to specifically warn his followers against this practice. Moses wrote under inspiration at Leviticus 18:22. "You shall not lie with a male as with a women; such A thing is an abomination." (NAB), and the Apostle Paul wrote at I Timothy 1:9-10, "...for persons lawless and unruly,...fornicators, men who lie with males...and whatever other thing is in opposition to the healthful teaching." (NWT). Also, Hebrews 13:4 plainly shows that all illicit sex practices are condemned by God as follows, "...but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge," (KJV).

Therefore let no one deceive you--illicit sexual practices b ring God's disfavor as shown by many passages in God's written work, the Holy Scriptures. This point is made clear at Romans 1:24-25, "In consequence, God delivered them up in their lusts to unclean practices; they engaged in the mutual degradation of their bodies, these men who exchanged the truth of God for a lie....: (NAB). Rightly, as stated in the Bible at Ecclesiastes 7:29, "...God made mankind upright, but they themselves have sought out many plans." (NWT). These works or plans of the fallen flesh are clearly identified, and I Corinthians 6:13 states, "...God will do away with them in the end--but the body is not for immorality; it is for the lord...." (NAB). In addition, I Corinthians 6:18 warns all wishing to win God's favor to, "Shun lewd conduct." (NAB), since this sin is within the body; whereas, "Every other sin a man commits is outside his body." (NAB). Also, I Corinthians 7:2 warns us to avoid illicit sexual relations in the following words, "But to avoid immorality...." (NAB). The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Colossians warned at Colossians 3:5, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence..." (KJV).

Since as can be plainly seen from the foregoing we should strive not to be a part of the wrong doing of this sinful generation noted at Mark 8:38, "...this faithless and corrupt age..." (NAB), where all sort of uncleanness exist as noted at Ephesians 4:19 as follows, "Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort...." (NWT). We should take heed to abstain from these things by noting what is God's will as expressed at I Thessalonians 4:3-5, "It is god's will that you grow in holiness: that you abstain from immorality, each of you guarding his members in sanctity and honor, not in passionate desire as do the Gentiles who know not God." (NAB). Not only must we not commit homosexuality (sodomy), adultery, and other illicit forms of sexual relationships; we must not as recorded at Matthew 5:28, "...look at a women lustfully...." (TNTMB). Specifically we must guard against committing any form of illicit sexual act as God wants us as shown at Hebrews 12:16, "that there may be no fornicator nor anyone not appreciating sacred things...." (NWT) among you; but wishes all to stop these wicked practices and repent as noted at Acts 26:20 as follows, "...they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance." (KJB)>

However, for those who refuse to repent and turn aside from wicked acts of illicit sexual relationships such as homosexuality (sodomy), adultery, fornication, beastality, and all other forms of sex with other than one;s marriage mate of the opposite gender, and as directed at Romans 6:6, "...our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed and we might be slaves to sin no longer." (NAB). For those who refuse to repent and stop these things a certain judgment awaits as God will give them up to destruction as shown by what he did to Sodom. Also, as shown by his action at Sodom, he can deliver the righteous as recorded at 2 Peter 3:7, "He did deliver Lot...." (NAB). Thus in closing it is imperative to recall to memory that he destroyed Sodom as an example to the ungodly per 2nd Peter 3:6, "And turning the cities of Sodom...into ashes condemned them...making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly." (KJV). To emphasize this he caused to be recorded for our guidance a warning with respect to what will come to pass on those rejecting his teachings and practicing wrong acts such as sodomy at Matthew 10:15 which reads, "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom...in the day of judgment, than for that city." Be of good cheer win God's approval by rejecting wickedness.

NAB ----- The New American Bible, St. Joseph Edition (Catholic Book Publishing Company)
KJV ----- King James Version of the Holy Bible
TNTMB --- The New Testament in Modern English by J.B. Phillips
NWT ----- The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures by The New World Bible Translation Committee

As can be seen, the AIDS plague can be quickly controlled by the elimination of inappropriate sexual conduct and/or touching since this is the root cause of its rapid and very destructive spread. In other words, a simple, known modification of our conduct would quickly make this plague "history." Our creator well knew his creation and as can be seen from the forgoing evidence how the plague of AIDS could devastate mankind long in advance of its actually happening. In other words, our society is now reaping its own recompense. We need to turn around.

Second, the "low-road" approach: Today AIDS is proving to be the greatest plague ever to hit mankind and at the same time the most preventable. Over a third of the workforce of several African countries are now afflicted with AIDS, i.e., test HIV positive. In several countries mine owners are having extreme difficulty maintaining a workforce as so many workers have contacted this disease. Recently the president of one of these countries appeared on a US television program telling of the devastation AIDS has wrought on his country. His story was truly dramatic. He detailed how many children were being born with aids and how many of the workers of his country were afflicted. Truly a bad scene, yes, but also truly preventable.

This president, instead dealing with the root cause, was looking for a medical solution to the effects of aids. He wanted the pharmaceutical companies to cut prices on AIDS drugs to poor African countries as they really should. He was also looking for various cheap devices to permit what he called "safer sex." This president is not alone, the governments of many African and non-African countries are looking for the same things. This approach to this terrible plague is a foolish approach that may stem the tide of the plague a little in the short run, but will ultimately fail in the long term.

In California and elsewhere the medical world is now discovering that all of the drugs used to treat AIDS start to lose their effectiveness over the long term. The drugs that were heralded as major breakthroughs when first used because of their short term miraculous results are losing their punch. Long term AIDS patients once more are on a downward spiral. Perhaps some new medical breakthrough will once more slow this inevitable downward spiral, but the victims quality of life will continue to decrease. Eventually all AIDS suffers will end up dying a painful death unless they die of an accident or other unforeseen circumstance first. Therefore, the only sensible course is to take all reasonable measures to prevent the spread of AIDS.

To prevent the spread of AIDS or any other infectious medium, its mechanism of spreading must be known. For example, it was discovered that Yellow Fever was spread by mosquitoes and great efforts were undertaken to eradicate the mosquitoes. Also, a vaccine was eventually developed. With respect AIDS, its common mechanisms of spreading, i.e., root causes, are well known. They are by contact with body fluids of an infected individual. Most commonly this occurs during sexual conduct of one type or another, by blood transfusion with contaminated blood, or by sharing unclean medical needles.

Since it is well known how AIDS spreads, the control and prevention of AIDS is rather simple. Stop doing the things that spread AIDS. To do this, we should do a Pareto's analysis of these root causes as to which contributes to the greater number of the AIDS cases. When this is done, it is quickly noted/found that over ninety (90) percent of all cases are the result of sexual contact; therefore, it is obvious this is the mechanism of spread to be reduced and/or eliminated just as mosquitoes in the case of Yellow Fever.

Now of course not all sexual contact can be eliminated as it is necessary for the reproduction of the human race. However, all none essential sexual contact should be eliminated/stopped immediately; both homosexual, heterosexual, and with animals by humans. Essential sexual contact should be made significantly safer by requiring HIV blood test of all couples applying for marriage certificates and requiring monogamy of them as part of the marriage contract. If these actions are taken, the number of new cases of AIDS will be so small as to be statistically insignificant. In addition, many other problems will go away such as illegitimate children, adultery and the resultant breakdown of marriages, etc. In fact, there are even so called charitable organizations, The United Way of Palm Beach County, who want to stop supporting the Boy Scouts of America just because they took a stand against the low moral tide sweeping the world.

Of course, to eliminate unnecessary sexual contact and to make essential sexual contact significantly safer requires drastic action by the governments of the world. This would not be easily acceptable by the populace, but the results would be outstanding, i.e., new AIDS cases would become statistically insignificant and many other problems would just go away. The world would become a healthier and better place to live in.

In addition, ceasing to do things that spread AIDS, i.e., inappropriate sexual touching, has other beneficial results. It also eliminates the risk of acquiring other sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as chlamydia, trichomoniasis, herpes, gonorrhea, and human papillomavirus (HPV), and others. Women are anatomically more vulnerable to STDs than men. When a woman is exposed to infection, the warm, moist, internal environment of the vagina is a perfect place for bacteria and viruses to grow. The actual risks of inappropriate sexual touching are greater than most realize since individuals committing this folly fail to consider the fact that indulging in this wrongful practice actually exposes the individual to a risk from every man/women his/her partner has ever slept with. In fact, almost all cases of cervical cancer and pre-cancerous abnormalities are caused by a STD transmitted disease called human papillomavirus, or HPV according to Mary Jane Minkin, MD a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in New Haven, CT and clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicing. Thus, inappropriate sexual touching is nothing short of playing Russian Roulette with ones health and life.

Details On AIDS Plague In Africa:
1. Some 20% of adults are infected in South Africa; and 36% of adults are infected in Botswana.
2. South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria all have more than 2 million people with HIV/AIDS.
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe all have between 1 and 2 million people with HIV/AIDS.
4. Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivorie, Ghana, Cameroon, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mali, and Central African Republic all have between 100,000 and 1 million people with HIV/AIDS.
5. Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Tanzania all have over 1 million children orphaned by aids.
6. Burkina Faso, Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa all have between 100,000 and 1 million children orphaned by aids.
7. AIDS has become the leading cause of deaths in South Africa, and young adults are especially hard hit, says The New York Times, commenting on a study of South Africa's Medical Research Council. The researchers estimate that during the next decade, between five and seven million people in South Africa will die from AIDS. Young women in their 20's are dying at a greater rate than women in their 60's. South Africa "has more people known to be infected with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, than any other country," the article adds. "One in neine South Africans, and one in four adults [ages 30-34], is not believed to be living with H.I.V., government officials say," (Awake! June 8, 2002)

LEARN  MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT   WWW.JW.ORG

HOW CAN WE BE SURE THE BIBLE IS TRUE?  VIEW A VIDEO ON THIS, CLICK: https://www.jw.org/en/library/books/Bible-Study-Video-Reference-Guide/What-Can-the-Bible-Teach-Us/   
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COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO ON INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MICAH,  [2]  DEVIANT SEX CARRIED TO THE ULTIMATE LIMIT BY FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) BY MEMBERS OF ISLAM AND A FEW COPTIC’S.

[1]       SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [561B]

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?   Matthew 24:3,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

Jesus (Yeshua) answered them at Matthew 24:4 – 6, [AV] “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.  5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.  6  And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Clearly showing the time for the end of the world (system of things) was still in the future.  At Matthew 24:36, [AV], he revealed, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” The date for the end was NOT known by him, but only known to his father.  But he did reveal to his disciples how the beginning of the culmination of the end times sould be at Matthew 24:7, [AV] “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.  8  All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  And that it would be necessary for all his followers per Matthew 12 – 13, [AV] “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.  13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” To stand fast with being his genuine followers during this period. 

VIEW A VIDEO ON INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF MICAH, CLICK:   https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/books-of-bible-intros/book-of-micah/


[2]       DEVIANT SEX CARRIED TO THE ULTIMATE LIMIT BY FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM) BY MEMBERS OF ISLAM AND A FEW COPTIC’S.

FIRST, LET’S LOOK AT A DEFINITION OF WHAT IT IS:  FGM, or cutting, as it is also sometimes known, is the removal of the external female genitalia. The procedure has no health benefits, but can cause great harm and serious health complications for those who undergo the procedure. Besides causing severe pain, the practice has immediate and long-term consequences for the health of women and girls, including complications during childbirth, which could endanger the lives of both mother and child.
It is practiced in many countries by members of Islam and in Egypt this evil sexually deviant practice is even carried on by a few of their Coptic neighbors upon whom they the bad practices of their Islamic neighbors has rubbed off.   Islam in general does NOT have a high regard for women and their rights as will be seen in this article.
“UNICEF estimated in 2016 that 200 million women living today in 30 countries—27 African countries, Indonesia, Iraqi Kurdistan and Yemen—have undergone the procedures. Typically carried out by a traditional circumciser using a blade, FGM is conducted from days after birth to puberty and beyond.  [sourc - retrieved from  http://cloudregistrants.com/reviews/female-mutilation-in-islam.com   on  4/22/2017]”
The Middle East Form says this about it:
(quote)  Is Female Genital Mutilation an Islamic Problem?
by Thomas von der Osten-Sacken and Thomas Uwer
Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2007, pp. 29-36
Among social activists and feminists, combating female genital mutilation (FGM) is an important policy goal. Sometimes called female circumcision or female genital cutting, FGM is the cutting of the clitoris of girls in order to curb their sexual desire and preserve their sexual honor before marriage. The practice, prevalent in some majority Muslim countries, has a tremendous cost: many girls bleed to death or die of infection. Most are traumatized. Those who survive can suffer adverse health effects during marriage and pregnancy. New information from Iraqi Kurdistan raises the possibility that the problem is more prevalent in the Middle East than previously believed and that FGM is far more tied to religion than many Western academics and activists admit.
Many Muslims and academics in the West take pains to insist that the practice is not rooted in religion[1] but rather in culture. "When one considers that the practice does not prevail and is much condemned in countries like Saudi Arabia, the center of the Islamic world, it becomes clear that the notion that it is an Islamic practice is a false one," Haseena Lockhat, a child clinical psychologist at North Warwickshire Primary Care Trust, wrote.[2] True, FGM occurs in non-Muslim societies in Africa. And in Arab states such as Egypt, where perhaps 97 percent of girls suffer genital mutilation,[3] both Christian Copts and Muslims are complicit.
But at the village level, those who commit the practice believe it to be religiously mandated. Religion is not only theology but also practice. And the practice is widespread throughout the Middle East. Many diplomats, international organization workers, and Arabists argue that the problem is localized to North Africa or sub-Saharan Africa,[4] but they are wrong. The problem is pervasive throughout the Levant, the Fertile Crescent, and the Arabian Peninsula, and among many immigrants to the West from these countries. Silence on the issue is less reflective of the absence of the problem than insufficient freedom for feminists and independent civil society to raise the issue.
Detecting Female Genital Mutilation
It is perhaps understandable that many diplomats and academics do not recognize the scope of the problem. Should someone wish to understand the sexual habits of Westerners, he would not face a difficult task. He could survey personal advertisements, watch talk shows, and read magazine articles explaining the best ways to enhance sexual experience, not to mention numerous scientific publications on sex and gender relations. Public knowledge of trivial and even painful matters is incumbent in Western culture. The multitude of sexual habits and gender relations represents a vital element of life in the West, much the same as the economy, politics, sports, and culture.
If, however, someone wants to study sexual relations and habits in Middle Eastern societies, it would be difficult to find comparable traces in public. Almost everything connected with sexuality and personal relations is hidden in a private sphere. Advisory books and research on sexual habits are almost nonexistent beyond comprehensive rules and prohibitions outlined by Islamic law or, in Shi'ite societies, beyond the questions and responses submitted to senior ayatollahs. Sex education is not taught at the university, let alone in any high school. Psychology remains a shadow discipline, almost absent in the eastern Middle East and only slightly more present in North Africa where more than a century of French rule offered more opportunity for it to take root. The Library of the British Psychoanalytical Society, for example, holds only one journal on psychotherapy or psychoanalysis in Arabic. Arab psychoanalyst Jihad Mazarweh gave an interview in the German weekly Die Zeit in which he said, "For most people, speaking about sexuality, as it happens in psychoanalysis, is almost unthinkable."[5] It would be a mistake to interpret lack of public discussion of many sexual issues in the Middle East as indicative of a lack of problems. Rather, the silence only reflects the strength of taboo.
Female genital mutilation has been a top priority for United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for almost three decades. As early as 1952, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights adopted a resolution condemning the practice.[6] International momentum against the practice built when, in 1958, the Economic and Social Council invited the World Health Organization to study the persistence of customs subjecting girls to ritual operations.[7] They repeated their call three years later.[8] The 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women denounced the practice,[9] and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child identified female genital mutilation as a harmful traditional practice.[10] According to the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development to assist in undertaking medical and reproductive health surveys, FGM affects 130 million women in twenty-eight African countries.[11] Rather than diminishing as countries modernize, FGM is expanding.[12]
Anthropologists and activists identify three main types of FGM. Pharaonic circumcision refers to the removal of the entire clitoris; the labia minora and medial part of the labia majora are cut with both sides of the organ stitched together to leave only a small opening. Clitorectomy requires the removal of the entire clitoris along with part of the labia minora. Sunna circumcision, the most common form in the Islamic world, requires removal of the prepuce of the clitoris.
Genital Mutilation: An African Phenomenon?
Many experts hold that female genital mutilation is an African practice. Nearly half of the FGM cases represented in official statistics occur in Egypt and Ethiopia; Sudan also records high prevalence of the practice.[13] True, Egypt is part of the African continent but, from a cultural, historical, and political perspective, Egypt has closer ties to the Arab Middle East than to sub-Saharan Africa. Egypt was a founding member of the Arab League, and Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser came to personify Arab nationalism between 1952 until his death in 1970. That FGM is so prevalent in Egypt should arouse suspicion about the practice elsewhere in the Arab world, especially given the low appreciation for women's rights in Arab societies. But most experts dismiss the connection of the practice with Islam. Instead, they explain the practice as rooted in poverty, lack of education, and superstition.
Few reports mention the existence of FGM elsewhere in the Middle East, except in passing. A UNICEF report on the issue, for example, focuses on Africa and makes only passing mention of "some communities on the Red Sea coast of Yemen." UNICEF then cites reports, but no evidence, that the practice also occurs to a limited degree in Jordan, Gaza, Oman, and Iraqi Kurdistan.[14] The German semigovernmental aid agency, the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, reports that FGM is prevalent in twenty-eight African countries but only among small communities "in a few Arab and Asian countries (e.g., Yemen, a few ethnic groups in Oman, Indonesia, and Malaysia).[15] Some scholars have asserted that the practice does not exist at all in those countries east of the Suez Canal.[16] Such assertions are wrong. FGM is a widespread practice in at least parts of these countries.[17]
Latest findings from northern Iraq suggest that FGM is practiced widely in regions outside Africa. Iraqi Kurdistan is an instructive case. Traditionally, Kurdish society is agrarian. A significant part of the population lives outside cities. Women face a double-burden: they are sometimes cut off from even the most basic public services and are subject to a complex of patriarchal rules. As a result, living conditions for women are poor. Many of the freedoms and rights introduced by political leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan after the establishment of the safe-haven in 1991 are, for many women, more theoretical than actual.
In early 2003, WADI, a German-Austrian NGO focusing on women's issues,[18] started to work with mobile teams to take medical aid and social support to women in peripheral Kurdish areas such as in the Garmian region of Iraqi Kurdistan. These all-female teams consisting of a physician, a nurse, and a social worker built trust and opened doors in local communities otherwise sealed against outsiders. After more than a year of working in the area, women began to speak about FGM. Kurds in the area practice Sunna circumcision. Midwives often perform the operation with unsterilized instruments or even broken glass and without anesthesia on girls four to twelve years old. The extent of mutilation depends on the experience of the midwife and the luck of the girl. The wound is then treated with ash or mud with the girls then forced to sit in a bucket of iced water. Many Kurdish girls die, and others suffer chronic pain, infection, and infertility. Many say they suffer symptoms consistent with posttraumatic stress disorder syndrome.[19]
Subsequent research found that 907 out of 1,544 women questioned had undergone genital circumcision, a cutting rate of nearly 60 percent.[20] Follow-up research in the Irbil and Kirkuk governorates suggests rates of FGM consistent with those in Garmian. Nearly every woman questioned declared FGM to be a "normal" practice. Most women referred to the practice as both a tradition and a religious obligation. When asked why they subject their daughters to the operation, many women respond "it has always been like that." Because the clitoris is considered to be "dirty" (haram, the connotation is forbidden by religion), women fear that they cannot find husbands for their daughters if they have not been mutilated; many believe men prefer sex with a mutilated wife. Others stress the religious necessity of FGM even though Islamic law is unclear with regard to FGM. While Western scholars may dismiss the religious roots of the practice, what counts is that many Islamic clerics in northern Iraq advise women to practice FGM. Should a woman consider abandoning the practice, she must be aware that she could appear as disreputable in the public eye.[21] Men usually avoid offering a clear statement about whether FGM is a good practice; rather, they refer to FGM as a female practice in which men should not interfere. None of the men said he had ever discussed the question with his wife.[22]
The reaction of locals to the findings has been instructive. When confronted with the study results, only a few women's activists in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya expressed surprise although most said they did not realize just how high a proportion of women was affected.[23] While a local researcher and women's rights activist Ronak Faraj had published a study on female circumcision in Sulaimaniya in 2004,[24] the fact that an international NGO had become aware of the problem bolstered public attention. While many Kurdish authorities were at first reluctant to address the issue for fear that the Kurdish region might appear backward, they now acknowledge the problem and are working to confront it with both an awareness campaign and with legislation.[25] But some members of influential Islamic and Arabic organizations in the diaspora scandalized the findings, accusing WADI of trying to insult Islam and spread anti-Islamic propaganda. Tarafa Baghajati and Omar al-Rawi, both members of the Initiative of Muslim Austrians, called the data part of an "Islamophobic campaign" and declared no FGM exists in Iraq.[26] That Islamic and Arabic organizations in Austria, for example, make such arguments is indicative of the problem affecting FGM data: these groups believe that if there are no such anti-FGM campaigns or studies, then they can bypass an embarrassing problem.
Such campaigns take time. In Egypt, anti-FGM education campaigns inaugurated in the mid-1990s are only now bearing fruit.[27] The idea that rooted practices cannot be changed is false. For centuries, foot-binding crippled Chinese women. An anti-foot-binding society formed only in 1874, but the activists were successful in scaling back and, eventually, eliminating the practice.[28] In Western societies, too, open public discourse on sexuality became possible only by persistent struggle in the face of stark opposition. The heated reactions to the 1948 Kinsey Report—and the portion concerning female sexuality published in 1953—are a case in point.[29]
How Widespread Is Female Genital Mutilation?
The discovery of widespread FGM in Iraqi Kurdistan suggests the assumption to be incorrect that FGM is primarily an African phenomenon with only marginal occurrence in the eastern Islamic world. If FGM is practiced at a rate of nearly 60 percent by Iraqi Kurds, then how prevalent is the practice in neighboring Syria where living conditions and cultural and religious practices are comparable? According to Fran Hosken, late founder of the Women's International Network News and author of groundbreaking research on FGM in 1975, "There is little doubt that similar practices—excision, child marriage, and putting rock salt into the vagina of women after childbirth—exist in other parts of the Arabian Peninsula and around the Persian Gulf." [30] That no firsthand medical records are available for Saudi Arabia or from any other countries in that region does not mean that these areas are free of FGM, only that the societies are not free enough to permit formal study of societal problems. That diplomats and international aid workers do not detect FGM in other societies also should not suggest that the problem does not exist. After all, FGM was prevalent in Iraqi Kurdistan for years but went undetected by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and many other international NGOs in the region. Perhaps the most important factor enabling an NGO to uncover FGM in Iraqi Kurdistan was the existence of civil society structures and popular demand for individual rights. Such conditions simply do not exist in Syria, Saudi Arabia, or even the West Bank and Gaza where local authorities fight to constrain individual freedoms rather than promote them.
But the problem is not only that autocratic regimes tend to suppress the truth. There also must be someone in place to conduct surveys. Prior to Iraq's liberation, it was impossible to undertake independent surveys on issues such as malnutrition and infant mortality. Saddam Hussein's regime preferred to supply data to the U.N. rather than to enable others to collect their own data which might not support the conclusions the Baathist regime desired to show. The oft-cited 1999 UNICEF study claiming that U.N. sanctions had led to the deaths of 500,000 children was based on figures supplied by Saddam's regime, not an independent survey.[31] The U.N. undertook its first reliable statistical research on the living conditions in Iraq only after liberation.[32] Syrian, Saudi, and Iranian authorities simply do not let NGOs operate without restriction, especially when they deal with sensitive social issues.
Taboo—not social but political—is another factor undercutting research on FGM in Arab countries. Many academics and NGO workers in the region find it objectionable to criticize the predominant Muslim or Arab cultures. They will bend over backwards to avoid the argument that FGM is rooted in Arab or Muslim cultures even though no one argues that FGM is exclusively an Arab or Muslim problem. Statistical data from African countries indicate no clear relationship between FGM and a specific religion.[33] Still, this does not mean that the causes of FGM do not vary across regions and that religion has no influence. As California State University anthropologist Ellen Gruenbaum has explained, "People have different and multiple reasons [for FGM] ... For some it is a rite of passage. For others it is not. Some consider it aesthetically pleasing. For others, it is mostly related to morality or sexuality."[34] Hanny Lightfoot-Klein, an internationally known expert on FGM who spent years in Kenya, Egypt, and Sudan, explains that "it is believed in the Sudan that the clitoris will grow to the length of a goose's neck until it dangles between the legs, in rivalry with the male's penis, if it is not cut."[35]
Most studies speak of "justifications"[36] and "rationalizations"[37] for FGM but do not speak of causes since this could implicate Islamic rules relating to women and sexual morality. Islam is regarded as a wrong "justification," often with a citation that the Qur'an does not require FGM. That many women in northern Iraq—and presumably many women in Egypt—believe that the practice is rooted in religion is a factor ignored by Western universities and international organizations.
Islamic Scholars on Female Genital Mutilation
Islamic scholars disagree on FGM: some say no obligatory rules exist while others refer to the mention of female circumcision in the Hadith. According to Sami A. Aldeeb Abu Sahlieh, a Palestinian-Swiss specialist in Islamic law:
The most often mentioned narration reports a debate between Muhammed and Um Habibah (or Um 'Atiyyah). This woman, known as an exciser of female slaves, was one of a group of women who had immigrated with Muhammed. Having seen her, Muhammad asked her if she kept practicing her profession. She answered affirmatively, adding: "unless it is forbidden, and you order me to stop doing it." Muhammed replied: "Yes, it is allowed. Come closer so I can teach you: if you cut, do not overdo it, because it brings more radiance to the face, and it is more pleasant for the husband."[38]
Abu Sahlieh further cited Muhammad as saying, "Circumcision is a sunna (tradition) for the men and makruma (honorable deed) for the women."[39]
While some clerics say circumcision is not obligatory for women, others say it is. "Islam condones the sunna circumcision ... What is forbidden in Islam is the pharaonic circumcision,"[40] one religious leader explained. Others, such as the late rector of Al-Azhar University, Sheikh Gad al-Haq, said that since the Prophet did not ban female circumcision, it was permissible and, at the very least, could not be banned.[41]
In short, some clerics condemn FGM as an archaic practice, some accept it, and still others believe it to be obligatory. It is the job of clerics to interpret religious literature; it is not the job of FGM researchers and activists. There is a certain tendency to confuse a liberal interpretation of Islam with the reality women face in many predominately Islamic regions. To counter FGM as a practice, it is necessary to accept that Islam is more than just a written text. It is not the book that cuts the clitoris, but its interpretations aid and abet the mutilation.
Conclusions
There are indications that FGM might be a phenomenon of epidemic proportions in the Arab Middle East. Hosken, for instance, notes that traditionally all women in the Persian Gulf region were mutilated.[42] Arab governments refuse to address the problem. They prefer to believe that lack of statistics will enable international organizations to conclude that the problem does not exist in their jurisdictions. It is not enough to consult Islamic clerics to learn about the mutilation of girls in Islamic societies—that is like asking the cook if the guests like the meal. U.N. agencies operating in the region ignore FGM statistics saying they have no applicable mandate to gather such data. Hosken describes it as a cartel of silence: men from countries were FGM is practiced "enjoy much influence at the U.N."[43] and show no interest in tackling pressing social problems.
To tackle the problem, Western countries and human rights organizations need to continue to break down the wall of silence and autocracy that blights the Arab Middle East and better promote the notion of individual rights. They should withhold conclusions about the breadth of FGM and, for that matter, other social problems or political attitudes until they can conduct independent field research.
Thomas von der Osten-Sacken and Thomas Uwer are, respectively, managing director and board member of WADI.
Update from June 17, 2010: In this fresh study by Human Rights watch, which examines FGM in Kurdistan, the striking and disturbing thing is the extent to which Kurdish authorities have gone to minimize the problem and to ridicule the report's conclusion. This is a repeated feature of official responses to this and other problems across the region, where fear of embarrassment before world opinion carries greater weight than the damage done to women, young girls, and babies. -- The Editors
Update from February 4, 2016: The New York Times reports on a "new global assessment [that] documents for the first time that [FGM] is widespread in one of the most populous countries in Asia: Indonesia." This underscores that authors' claim that lack of reporting on the problem in a given country is not evidence that it doesn't exist.
Notes
[1] See, for example, Marie José Simonet, "FMG: Sunna oder Verbrechen aus Tradition," stopFMG.net, Vienna, June 24, 2005.
[2] Haseena Lockhat, Female Genital Mutilation: Treating the Tears (London: Middlesex University Press, 2004), p. 16.
[3] Weibliche Genitalverstümmelung: Geschichte, Ausmaß, Formen und Folgen (Vienna: Renner Institut, 2004), p. 6.
[4] See, for example, Innocenti Digest: Changing a Harmful Social Convention: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (Florence: UNICEF, 2005).
[5] Die Zeit (Hamburg), May 11, 2006.
[6] See, for example, Changing a Harmful Social Convention, p. VII.
[7] "Fact Sheet no. 23, Harmful Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children," U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Geneva, accessed Aug. 11, 2006.
[8] ECOSOC resolution 821 II (XXXII); ibid.
[9] "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women," U.N. General Assembly resolution 34/180, Dec. 18, 1979.
[10] "Convention on the Rights of the Child," U.N. General Assembly resolution 44/25, Nov. 20, 1989, art. 24, 3.
[11] Dara Carr, Female Genital Cutting: Findings from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program (Calverton, Md.: Macro International, 1997), p. 1.
[12] Gerry Mackie, "A Way to End Female Genital Cutting," Female Genital Cutting education and Networking Project, Tallahassee, Fla., accessed Aug. 4, 2006.
[13] Eiman Okro, "Weibliche Genitalverstümmelung im Sudan," PhD dissertation, Humboldt University, Berlin (Hamburg: Akademos Science Publishing House, 2001); "Female Genital Mutilation in Africa: Information by Country," Amnesty International, accessed Sept. 1, 2006.
[14] Changing a Harmful Social Convention, p. 3.
[15] "What Is Female Genital Mutilation?" Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit, Frankfurt, Ger., 2005, accessed Aug. 4, 2006.
[16] See, for example, "Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa, The Middle East and Far East: Where, Why and How It Is Done," Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, updated Mar. 2005.
[17] Fran P. Hosken, The Hosken Report: Genital and Sexual Mutilation of Females (Lexington: The Women's International Network News, 1993), pp. 275-8.
[18] WADI, offices in Frankfurt and Sulaimaniya.
[19] Janet Menage, "Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Women Who Have Undergone Obstetric and/or Gynecological Procedures. A Consecutive Series of 30 Cases of PTSD," Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 11(1993): 221-8.
[20] Data derived from WADI field research in the Garmian region of Iraqi Kurdistan, 2005; Christian Science Monitor, Aug. 10, 2005; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Jan. 21, 2005; "Widespread FGM in Northern Iraq," Global Health Council, Jan. 6, 2005; "Iraq: Decades of Suffering, Now Women Deserve Better," Amnesty International, London, Feb. 22, 2005.
[21] Mackie, "A Way to End Female Genital Cutting."
[22] WADI field research, 2005.
[23] U.N. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), Mar. 16, 2005.
[24] Ronak Faraj, "Female Circumcision," Women Information and Culture Center, Sulaimaniya, Iraq, 2004.
[25] The Irish Times (Dublin), Oct. 25, 2005.
[26] Judith Götz, " Anmerkungen zu einer Veranstaltung‚ Die politische Lage im Irak," Jan. 28, 2005, accessed Oct. 11, 2006.
[27] NBC News, Oct. 21, 2004.
[28] Mackie, "A Way to End Female Genital Cutting"; Marie Vento, "One Thousand Years of Chinese Footbinding: Its Origins, Popularity and Demise," paper, City University of New York, Mar. 7, 1998.
[29] "American Experience: Kinsey in the News," Public Broadcasting Service, Jan. 27, 2005.
[30] Hosken, The Hosken Report, p. 278.
[31] Michael Rubin, "Sanctions on Iraq: A Valid Anti-American Grievance?" Middle East Review of International Affairs, June, 2002.
[32] "Iraq Living Conditions Survey 2004," United Nations Development Program, Baghdad, 2005.
[33] Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting. A Statistical Exploration (New York: UNICEF, 2005), p. 10.
[34] Ellen Gruenbaum, The Female Circumcision Controversy: An Anthropological Perspective. (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2000), p. 33.
[35] Hanny Lightfoot-Klein. "Prisoners of Ritual: Some Contemporary Developments in the History of Female Genital Mutilation," presented at the Second International Symposium on Circumcision in San Francisco, Apr. 30-May 3, 1991.
[36] Julia M. Masterson and Julie Hanson Swanson, Female Genital Cutting: Breaking the Silence, Enabling Change (Washington, D.C.: International Center for Research on Women and the Center for Development and Population Activities, 2000), p. 5.
[37] "Female Genital Mutilation: A Joint WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA Statement," Geneva, 1997.
[38] Sami A. Aldeeb Abu Sahlieh, "To Mutilate in the Name of Jehovah or Allah: Legitimization of Male and Female Circumcision," Medicine and Law, July 1994, pp. 575-622.
[39] Ibid.
[40] Razor's Edge: The Controversy of Female Genital Mutilation, IRIN, Mar. 2005; Sheikh Omer, interview, IRINnews.org, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Mar. 8, 2005.
[41] "Appendix: Is Female Circumcision Required?" Jannah.org, accessed Aug. 11, 2005.
[42] Hosken, The Hosken Report, p. 277.
[43] Ibid., p. 375.
[sourc - retrieved from   http://www.meforum.org/1629/is-female-genital-mutilation-an-islamic-problem  on  4/22/2017]
Believe it or not, members of Islam even practice this abominable anti-female practice in the USA, and use Muslim doctors to carry it out, see proof as follows:
(quote)  Michigan doctor, wife arrested for allegedly conspiring to perform female genital mutilation
By Brooke Singman, Published April 21, 2017,  FoxNews.com

A Michigan doctor and his wife were arrested and charged Friday morning for allegedly conspiring to perform female genital mutilation on minors, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The Attars allegedly arranged and assisted Nagarwala in performing FGM out of a medical clinic that Dr. Attar owns in Livonia, Mich. Attar's wife works at the clinic as office manager. The three are believed to be the first people charged under a federal law that criminalizes female genital mutilation (FGM). 
According to the criminal complaint, some of Attar’s victims, ranging from ages 6 to 8, are believed to have traveled interstate to have the procedure performed.
Female genital mutilation is prevalent in some majority Muslim countries and is sometimes called “cleansing” by its practitioners. It involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, often performed without anesthesia. It is designed to ensure females remain virgins until marriage.
According to a 2013 census by the Population Reference Bureau, approximately 500,000 women and girls in the United States have undergone the procedure or are at risk of the procedure.
In 2015, the issue of female genital mutilation received a wave of attention after Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt made a personal pledge of $100,000 to stop the brutal practice, after meeting Ayaan Hirsi Ali, an internationally known women’s rights advocate who suffered the barbaric practice at the age of 5.
“I don’t see how anyone who believes in the rule of law and the rights of women could do anything other than support efforts to end female-genital mutilation, forced marriage and honor-killings [[All involved in this are members of Islam]] -- practices that have no place in the 21st century,” Schmidt said in 2015.
Attar and his wife were scheduled to appear in Detroit federal court Friday afternoon.   [sourc - retrieved from   http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/21/michigan-doctor-wife-arrested-for-allegedly-conspiring-to-perform-female-genital-mutilation.html  on  4/21  /2017] (quote)

Yes, it is an evil practice promoted by many Muslim leaders, “A Product of Muslim Education Promoted By Their Religious Leaders;

Female Genital Mutilation "An Obligation" According to Iraqi Muslim Cleric
by Irfan Al-Alawi
August 18, 2011 at 4:00 am
http://www.hudson-ny.org/2360/female-genital-mutilation-iraq
  In June, the parliament of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) adopted a ban on domestic violence, including female genital mutilation (FGM), a "procedure" that is widespread among Iraqi Kurds. The law will come into effect once it is signed by KRG president Mesud Barzani, who represents the Kurdistan Democratic Party.
But a local cleric, Ismail Sussai, in the major Iraqi Kurdish city of Arbil, has delivered a televised sermon in which he described FGM as "obligatory," called on fathers to kill themselves, on pain of losing their "honor," if they are legally prevented from abusing their daughters for using mobile phones; and he defended the beating of wives and children.
The Kurdish cleric was particularly offended by use of mobile phones among girls, as well as by suggestions that the beating of women and children should be legislatively curbed, along with the FGM that was inflicted on the mothers and grandmothers of present-day Iraqi Kurdish leaders, and is still suffered by a majority of Kurdish girls.
He went on to threaten political opposition to the KRG if Barzani signs the law against domestic violence and FGM.
Sussai's diatribe included the claim that sanctions against FGM were forced on the Iraqi Kurds by a conference of "Jews" in the Chinese capital of Beijing -- a bizarre charge that is apparently based in the condemnation of FGM by the Fourth World Conference on Women hosted by the United Nations in Beijing in 1995.
Sussai based his argument for FGM on support for it by the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence, one of four Sunni schools. While Shafi'i legalists have declared FGM obligatory, its imposition on girls has not been uniform. Shafi'i jurisprudence is widely adhered to in Muslim communities in East Africa, as well as in Egypt and Indonesia, with additional enclaves of support in the other Arab lands, the Indian ocean, and Southeast Asia. But FGM is rare in large areas of the Muslim geographical region that recognizes Shafi'i religious law.
FGM is a pre-Islamic practice that appears to have been assimilated into Shafi'i jurisprudence through adoption of local customs. It is more common among Black Africans of differing religious affiliation, as well as Arabs in diverse areas of Saudi Arabia and its neighbours, including Egypt. Immigrants from both parts of the globe have introduced FGM into Europe and the U.S., where it is banned. Parents who insist on it may send their daughters back to their homelands for infliction of FGM, but in doing so violate the law.
Along with many Western countries, Indonesia and Egypt have prohibited FGM, although some extremist clerics in both countries emphasize their support for it in the style of the Kurdish Ismail Sussai.
FGM is unknown in the Muslim Balkans, rare in Turkey and Central Asia, and absent from India and Bangladesh. The custom is controversial and despised by most of the Islamic global community. Even the radical cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who is influential in Egypt, has averred that while he supports the practice in a "moderate" Islamic way "indicated" in some of the hadiths (oral commentaries) of Prophet Muhammad, "such hadiths are not confirmed to be authentic."
Muslims should work to end FGM, so-called "honour" murders, beatings, and other abuses imposed on women and children under cover of religion. With all its many problems, the intentions of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which has a secular history, and of the Kurdistan Regional Government, are correct in banning these practices.
President Barzani should sign and enforce the law against domestic violence, including its anti-FGM components, and disregard the retrograde harangues of extremist clerics like Ismail Sussai.
But members of the Shafi'i school and non-Shafi'i Muslim clerics must also recognize a duty to unambiguously repudiate "Islamic" pretexts for FGM and other family crimes.
Related Topics: Irfan Al-Alawi

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE AND RELIGION – BOTH TRUE AND FALSE – AT   WWW.JW.ORG

COMBINATION OF [1]  THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY AND A VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK,  [2]  THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES - Annona squamosa     With the Scripture of the Day first.

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY [565B]

When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.  Psalms 63:6,  [authorized King James Bible; AV]

And we must meditate and chew spiritual food as shown by Psalms 77:12, [AV] “I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.”  We must be like Job and deal with everyday problems and relationships using Job as an example per Job 23:5, [AV] “I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.”

VIEW A VIDEO INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK, CLICK:   https://www.jw.org/en/library/bible/study-bible/books/habakkuk-introduction/

(2)   THE RARE FRUIT TREES AND VEGETABLES: -  Annona squamosa

The sugar-apple, or sweetsop, is the fruit of Annona squamosa, the most widely grown species of Annona and a native of the tropical Americas and West Indies. The Spanish traders of Manila galleons brought it to Asia, where its old Mexican name ate may still be found in Bengali ata, Nepalese aati, Sinhalese mati anoda, Burmese awzar thee, Indonesia “ Srikaya”’ and atis in the Philippines. It is also known as Seetaphal in India and Shareefa Pakistan and in the Philippines and in Australia.[1] The name is also used in Portuguese as ata.
The fruit is spherical-conical, 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in) in diameter and 6–10 cm (2.4–3.9 in) long, and weighing 100–240 g (3.5–8.5 oz), with a thick rind composed of knobby segments. The color is typically pale green through blue-green, with a deep pink blush in certain varieties, and typically has a bloom. It is unique among Annona fruits in being segmented, and the segments tend to separate when ripe, exposing the interior.
The flesh is fragrant and sweet, creamy white through light yellow, and resembles and tastes like custard. It is found adhering to 13-to-16-millimetre-long (0.51 to 0.63 in) seeds forming individual segments arranged in a single layer around a conical core. It is soft, slightly grainy, and slippery. The hard, shiny seeds may number 20–40 or more per fruit and have a brown to black coat, although varieties exist that are almost seedless.[1][2]
There are also new varieties being developed in Taiwan. The atemoya or "pineapple sugar-apple," a hybrid between the sugar-apple and the cherimoya, is popular in Taiwan, although it was first developed in the US in 1908. The fruit is similar in sweetness to the sugar-apple but has a very different taste. As its name suggests, it tastes like pineapple.
Nomenclature
As a result of its widespread cultivation, many local names have developed for the fruit.
    • In English, it is most widely known as a sugar apple or sweetsop as well as a custard apple, especially in India and Australia (custard apple also refers to Annona reticulata, a closely related species).
    • In Hispanic America, regional names include anón, anón de azucar, anona blanca, fruta do conde, cachiman, saramuyo, riñon, grenadilla (little grenade) and many others.
    • In Arabic, it is called ???? (qishta / ishta / ashta), the translation being "cream".
    • In Aceh, it is called "seureuba".
    • In Angola, it is called fruta-do-conde or fruta-pinha.
    • In Assamese, it is called Atlos or ?????.
    • In Bambara, it is called zumzum or sunsun.
    • In Bangladesh, it is called "Ata fol".
    • In The Bahamas, it is called "sugar apple".
    • In Brazil, it is called fruta-do-conde, fruta-de-conde, condessa, fruta-pinha, pinha (lit. cone), ata or anona.
    • Its name in Burmese is ?????? or aawz? t?.
    • In Cambodia, regional names include ??????? (plae teib that is custard apple).
    • In Colombia, it is called "anón".
    • In Curacao, it is called "skopapel".
    • In Djibouti, it is called aat or aag in Somali.
    • In Ethiopia, it is called Gishta (???) in Amharic.
    • In Germany, it is called Zimtapfel, because of its taste.[3]
    • In Ghana, it is called "Sweet Apple".
    • In Kenya, it is called "tomoko" in Swahili or "itomoka" in Gikuyu
    • In Greece, it is called ????????? (sweet apple).
    • In Haiti, it is called kachiman.
    • In Hebrew, it is called anonah (?????)
    • In China, it is commonly called foreign lychee (???) as well as other names ???????????????(referred for fruit)????(referred for trees)???(Chaoshan)????(Guangxi)????(Longzhou)????(Pinxiang Similar to Jackfruits)???(??)??(Guangdong Cantonese Areas including Hong Kong, Macao )????(Dehong)
    • In Iceland, it is called sólberkja.
    • In India it is known as: Sitaphal in most languages, literally meaning Sita's fruit and also known as "Sarifa" in some places
In Assamese: atlos (????)

In Bengali: ata (???)

In Gujarati: sitaphal (??????)

In Hindi: Sitaphal (??????)

In Bhojpuri: sharifa (??????)

In Kannada: sitaphala (??????)

In Malayalam: aathakka (???????) / seethappazham (????????)

In Marathi: sitaphal (??????)

In Odia: aata (??)

In Punjabi: sharifa (??????)

In Tamil: sitappazham (??????????)

In Telugu: sita phalamu (???? ????).
    • In Indonesia, srimatikiya or, as mostly people call it, srikaya.
    • In Jamaica, it is called "sweetsop" or "sweet-sop".
    • in Japan, it is called shakatou (???, head of Shakyamuni).
    • In Kenya, it is called matomoko.
    • In Madagascar, it is called konikony in Malagasy, or pocanelle in French.
    • In Malawi, it is called "mpoza" in chewa.
    • In Malaysia, it is called buah nona.
    • In Mauritius, it is called "zatte" in the Creole language.
    • In Martinique it is called pomme cannelle.
    • In Mozambique it is called ata.
    • In Nepal, it is called "aati" as well as "saripha" (??), (???), (?????).
    • In Nicaragua, it is called "annona guatemala".
    • In Northern Nigeria, it is called fasadabur in Hausa
    • In Pakistan, it is called Sharifa (?????)
    • In the Philippines, it is called atis.
    • In Singapore, it is called Lim kim.
    • In Somalia it is called "Cambe shoog" or "Cambe caad".
    • In Sri Lanka, it is called "Anoda" or "Katu Atha" in Sinhalese, "Annamunnaa" (??????????) in Tamil.
    • In Taiwan, it is called sakya (Chinese: ??; pinyin: shìji?; Taiwanese: sek-khia, sek-kia) because one cultivar resembles the top part of Shakyamuni's (????) head.
    • In Tanzania, it is called matopetope.
    • In Thailand, it is called noi-na (????????).
    • In Uganda, it is called ekistaferi.
    • In Vanuatu, it is called korosol or pomkanel.
    • In Vietnam, it is called mãng c?u ta or na.
    • In Yemen, it is called Khirmish (????).
    • In Oman, it is called Sa'fal (????).
    • In Venezuela, it is called Chirimoya (west), Riñón (east).
    • In Zimbabwe, it is called Roro
Nutrition and uses
Sugar-apples, (sweetsop), raw
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy
393 kJ (94 kcal)

Carbohydrates
23.64 g
Dietary fiber
4.4 g

Fat
0.29 g

Protein
2.06 g

Vitamins
Quantity%DV†
Thiamine (B1)
10%
0.11 mg
Riboflavin (B2)
9%
0.113 mg
Niacin (B3)
6%
0.883 mg
Pantothenic acid (B5)
5%
0.226 mg
Vitamin B6
15%
0.2 mg
Folate (B9)
4%
14 ?g
Vitamin C
44%
36.3 mg

Minerals
Quantity%DV†
Calcium
2%
24 mg
Iron
5%
0.6 mg
Magnesium
6%
21 mg
Manganese
20%
0.42 mg
Phosphorus
5%
32 mg
Potassium
5%
247 mg
Sodium
1%
9 mg
Zinc
1%
0.1 mg

Link to USDA Database entry
    • Units
    • ?g = micrograms • mg = milligrams
    • IU = International units
†Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults.

Source: USDA Nutrient Database
Sugar-apple is high in energy, an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese, a good source of thiamine and vitamin B6, and provides vitamin B2, B3 B5, B9, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium in fair quantities.[4]
A Philippine company produces sugar apple wine.[citation needed]
For uses of other fruit from the Custard-apple family see:
[SOURCE = RETRIVED FROM   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple   ON  11 /05/ 2019]

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