The answer that the Shaykh had given on this issue reached the scholars of Baghdad. They rose to champion his position, wrote in full agreement with him, and I have seen their very handwriting to that effect. Here is the text of what they wrote:

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. (1) After praising Allah—the opening of every discourse—and sending blessings and peace upon His Messenger Muhammad, the best of mankind, and upon his righteous and noble family and companions, the banners of guidance and lamps amid the darkness.

The poorest of Allah’s servants (2) and the one most in need of His pardon says: What the learned Shaykh—the accomplished master, pride of the people, adornment of Islam, pillar of the Sacred Law, champion of the Sunnah, suppressor of innovation, gatherer of every virtue, and exemplar of the foremost scholars—has cited in this reply from the statements of the scholars and the noble imams—may Allah have mercy on them all—is clear beyond refutation and manifest beyond concealment; indeed, it is brighter than the two great luminaries and more obvious than the break of dawn to anyone with sight. (3)

The decisive authority in this matter is the hadith whose authenticity is unanimously agreed upon, and the root of the scholarly disagreement lies in the two possible senses (4) carried by its wording.