Muhammad Jamaluddin al-Makki al-Amili al-Jizzini,[1] (1334–1385) is known to Shi’ites as the Shahid Awwal (Arabic: الشهيد الأولash-Shahid al-Awwal “The First Martyr”).

Although he is neither the first Muslim, nor the first Shi’te to die for his religion, he became known as “Shahid Awwal” because he was probably the first Shia scholar of such stature to have been killed in a brutal manner.

He was born in 734 A.H (ca. 1334 ) in Jabal ‘Amel. He went to study at al-Hilla in Iraq when he was 16 and returned when he was 21.He used taqiyya to establish himself as a religious scholars and Sunni law to judge Sunnis, while covertly judging Shi’ites using Shia law.[1]

During the reign of Sultan Barquq he was accused of rafd, defamation of Aisha, Abu Bakr and Umar, following the Nusayrifaith and permitting the drinking of wine.[2] A Maliki jurist gave the fatwa for his death. Subsequently, he was imprisoned for one year, then beheaded by sword. His body was then crucified and stoned in Damascus.

Source: en.shafaqna.com