Shaykh al-Islām Ahmad ibn Taymiyyah—may Allah sanctify his soul—wrote the following when the Tatar enemy reached Aleppo in 699 AH, the Egyptian army withdrew, and the Syrian army remained:
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
To all believers and Muslims whom this reaches—may Allah treat them graciously in this world and the Hereafter, lavish His blessings upon them, inwardly and outwardly, grant them a mighty victory and a great triumph, provide them with a supporting authority from Himself, and make them hold fast to His firm rope and follow His straight path.
Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. We praise Allah, besides whom there is no god. He is worthy of all praise and has power over all things. We ask Him to bless Muhammad, His servant and Messenger, whom He chose above all His creation. May Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace.
To proceed:
Allah, Mighty and Majestic, sent Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, with guidance and the religion of truth, to make it prevail over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as a witness. He made him the Seal of the Prophets and the master of all the children of Adam, and made His Book, which He sent down