Sharing Her Light

Tasneem was my best friend for four years of high school. She was my ride or die, my goofball, the light of my life. We often laughed together about how we were stuck with one another, attached at the hip until we were old and gray. I would give anything to hug her one last time. Tasneem was the funniest person I’ve ever known. Her radiance and energy affected every person who had the chance to meet her. She was constantly smiling, dancing, and cackling with glee. She ate gum like a crazy person. She’d bite off the corner and save 95% of it for later, I teased her for it all the time. She taught me how to beatbox, and stayed positive even though I was very, very bad at it.

In January of 2020 I was interning in Paris while she was living in Tunisia and we spent a weekend together exploring the city. It was the best weekend of my life. I’ve found it impossible to process that her light has left our world, but I know that her love for Allah and her faith was stronger than anything. A world without Tasneem will not turn the same. But she would want us to continue dancing, to continue eating gum in the most ridiculous way possible, to continue to share her light. There are not enough words to describe how important Tasneem was, not just to me in the time we were in each other’s lives, but to life as a whole. I love you so much, Tasneem. May Allah let your soul rest and may your spirit be at peace.

— Syd Casey-Willig