Not For Sale & A World Free Of Slavery

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh my lovely readers.

May you be reading this post in good health and strong iman. I have missed you all and I am very excited to be here again and actually have something of substance to write about. I recently returned home from a 3 day trip out to California for the Global Forum on Human Trafficking. Subhan'Allah, it was amazing. It has inspired me and motivated me all over again to pursue this field and do my part to end modern day slavery.
I can't say that I LEARNED anything new while I was there (I've been learning and keeping updated constantly on human trafficking since I first learned about it back in 2004), but it was amazing being surrounded by so many people who want to fight against this injustice like myself. Also, I did learn about other organizations out there doing their part to end trafficking. Overall, it was an incredibly inspiring two days at the forum, alhamdullilah.

There were many great speakers at the Forum, including Mira Sorvino and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson!  However, my favorite speakers were three young women who have trained themselves on the issue and now they are all working abroad to help victims in their part of the world. One girl is in Romania, another in South Africa, and another in Amsterdam. I was lucky to be able to speak with the young woman working in Amsterdam and she gave me some insight into how she made it in this field (going to the Not For Sale Academy). Insha'Allah, I will be able to attend the 3 day academy being held in Atlanta next April. The entire time I was there I kept telling myself that one day I will be up on that stage speaking like these women because I will be working in Morocco saving victims there, insha'allah.

So, now, I want to focus specifically on the hosts of the Global Forum, Not For Sale. Masha'Allah, they are an AMAZING organization! It started out as a Christian based organization, but through the years they now have a Jewish and, most recently, Muslim sect to support their efforts. I really want to focus more on their Muslim initiatives because I strongly feel that we, as an ummah, need to put more effort into standing up for the victims of modern day slavery and help put an end to it.

Not For Sale, uses the name International Muslim Abolitionist Movement (IMAM), to draw Muslims around the world to help them in their efforts. Clever :) According to their website, "The International Muslim Abolitionist Movement (IMAM) is created in the belief that Muslims have a special role to play when it comes to the work of abolition, because of the example of Muhammad (peace be upon him), who’s family, friends and companions personally freed almost 40 thousand slaves in his own lifetime, and who dedicated himself to creating a world where all peoples, regardless of race, creed, status or religion can thrive. To honor his legacy, we will assist you to grow a thriving abolitionist program in your backyard by providing platforms for active engagement."

Who's with me???  Okay, great!!! Please go to the site linked above to find out how YOU can help!! Of course, the most important step we must all take is making du'a for our brothers and sisters in HUMANITY to live a FREE life. A life where NO ONE is for sale!!!


On another note, the remainder of my time in California was wonderful, alhamdullilah. I got to meet up with an old friend I haven't seen in 12 years!! Her and her husband and daughter treated me out to dinner on my last night in the area to a yummy afghan restaurant! Man, I loooooove their food! Delicious! Also, when I went to pick up my rental car at the airport, the lady was so kind and upgraded me to a Mustang! WOOOOOOOP! LooooL I felt so cool. However, the driving there was TERRIBLE! OMG, I almost got into about 3 accidents! YIKES!! Praise be to Allah I made it out safely! 


Soon after, I returned home and only had one day of rest before making my way down to Orlando to see my husband after being apart for 6 months! More on that next time. . .