Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Khatib al-Baghdadi narrates that a Roman official wrote a threatening letter to Caliph Mu’tasim, and demanded to hear his immediate response.

The Caliph wrote back:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، أما بعد: فقد قرأتُ كتابك وسمعتُ خطابك، والجواب ما ترى لا ما تسمع
“In the Name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious.
Amma ba’d:
I read your letter and I heard your statement.
My response will be what you will see, not what you will hear.”

[“Tarikh Baghdad”, 4/550].