Sulayman b. Razin
Sulayman b. Razin (Arabic: سُلَیمان بن رَزین) was Imam al-Hussain's messenger to the people of Basra. However, 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad learned about the Imam's letter and ordered to Sulayman's execution. Thus, Sulayman can be considered to be first martyr of the uprising of Imam al-Hussain.
Sulayman b. Razin | |
|---|---|
| Native name | سُلَیمان بن رَزین |
| Known for | Imam al-Hussain's messenger to the people of Basra |
Imam al-Hussain's Letter to the People of Basra
Imam al-Hussain sent Sulayman with a letter to Basra. In his letter, the Imam addressed the the five chiefs of Basra: Malik b. Musamma' al-Bakri, Ahnaf b. Qays al-Tamimi, Mundhir b. Jarud al-'Abdi, Mas'ud b. 'Amr al-Azdi, Qays b. Haytham, and 'Amr b. 'Ubayd Allah b. Mu'ammar.
So, God chose Muhammad over His creation and honored him as His messenger and chose him for His mission. Then, God took him (his soul) while he was wishing well for the servants of God and delivered his mission (to the people); and we are his family, children and vicegerents; and we are the most deserved ones among the people for his position among them; But, our people passed us to reach that position and we accepted, because we disliked disunity and liked well-being and cordiality among people. However, we know that we deserve the right which belongs to us more than those who have taken it….I have sent my ambassador to you with this letter. I invite you to the Book of God and the tradition of the Prophet, because the tradition has died and illegitimate innovation has emerged. So, if you listen to my word and obey my order, I guide you to the path of growth. And peace be upon you and the mercy of God.
— Tabari, Tarikh al-umam wa l-muluk, vol. 5, p. 357
Martyrdom
All the chiefs that received the letter of the Imam kept it secret except Mundhir b. Jarud, who was the father-in-law of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. Mundhir took both the letter and Sulayman himself to Ibn Ziyad, who read it and ordered for Sulayman to be decapitated. In another source he is mentioned as being hanged.
Both Sulayman's name and that of his murderer are mentioned in the Ziyarah al-Shuhada',
Peace be upon Sulayman, servant of al-Hussain b. Amir al-Mu'minin and may the curse of God be on his murderer, Sulayman b. 'Awf al-Hadrami.