Sulayman b. Razin

Sulayman b. Razin (Arabic: سُلَیمان بن رَزین) was appointed to deliver Imam al-Hussain's message to noble people of Basra. However, 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad learned about Imam's letter and ordered to kill Sulayman. Thus, Sulayman was considered the first martyr of the uprising of Imam al-Hussain.

Letter of Imam al-Hussain to Noble People of Basra

Imam al-Hussain sent Sulayman with a letter to Basra. In his letter, Imam addressed the five chiefs and noble people 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 people); and we are his family, children and vicegerents; and we are most deserved ones among 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.

Martyrdom

All nobles receiving the letter of Imam kept the secret but Mundhir b. Jarud (who was father-in-law of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, ruler of Basra) took the letter and Sulayman to 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad. On his way to Kufa, Ibn Ziyad read the letter and ordered to behead Sulayman and in another report, they hung him.

The names of him and his murderer are mentioned in the Ziyarah al-Shuhada', "Peace be upon Sulayman, servant of al-Hussain b. Amir al-Mu'minin and the curse of God be on his murderer, Sulayman b. 'Awf al-Hadrami."

Source

• Sahm WikiShia, An online encyclopedia of the school of Ahl al-Bayt