First: he must have two witnesses attest to it. He brings two men and reads it to them so that they fully grasp its meaning. If any word in it is unclear to them, they must ask for clarification, saying to the judge, “What does this word mean?” Once they have understood the letter and its meaning, he says, “Bear witness that this is my letter to so-and-so, son of so-and-so.” They then testify to that, after which he hands it to them and says, “Take it with you.” Preferably, he should hand it over only after sealing it, for that is more prudent and safer against alteration. If he encloses it and places the seal upon it, this is safer from alteration, since it is possible that these two witnesses might alter it. Thus, the precautionary course is to seal it and deliver it to them.

If he sends it with only one person, it is not valid, except according to an opinion mentioned previously—the view of Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him—that sending it with one person is sufficient. Likewise, if he gives it to the two of them sealed, without reading it to them, and says, “Take this letter to so-and-so, son of so-and-so,” it is not valid according to the madhhab, and it is not accepted unless he reads it to them, because they stand in the position of witnesses, and a witness must know what he is testifying to.

But the correct view, without doubt, is that it is sufficient for him to give it to them sealed. Indeed, it could even be said that this is preferable, so that they do not become aware of its contents. For some people, when they learn something concerning such matters, go about flaunting it in gatherings, saying, “Judge so-and-so wrote such-and-such to Judge so-and-so”—meaning, “Listen, people: I am connected to the judges and know their affairs!” In short, it could be said that it is preferable not to read the letter to them.

Then these matters which the jurists, may Allah have mercy on them, mentioned apparently