Imam Abū al-Abbās Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah said in his “Reply” to a note sent to him in prison in Ramadan, 706 AH:

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help and forgiveness, and seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from our evil deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whoever He leads astray, none can guide. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger:

He sent him with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion; and sufficient is Allah as a witness.

May Allah send blessings upon him and his family, and grant him abundant peace.

To proceed: The “note” containing the message of the two eminent, learned, devout shaykhs, both exemplary figures, has arrived. May Allah strengthen them and all the brethren with a spirit from Him, inscribe faith in their hearts, grant them an honourable entrance and an honourable departure, and make them among those through whom authority is upheld: the authority of knowledge, argument, exposition, and proof; and the authority of power and victory through spears and supporters.

May He make them among His God-fearing allies and His troops who prevail over those of their peers who oppose them, and among the leaders of the God-fearing, who combined patience