He also wrote to the governor of Jerusalem, the Mufti, and the Chief Justice there, saying: You know that in Jerusalem there are many monasteries, churches, and religious sites to which Christian and Jewish communities flock every year. These communities have complained to us about the oppression, cruelty, harshness, and contempt they face from you, in addition to the heavy taxes and fines you impose on them, looking only to satisfy yourselves and act upon your desires. You are aware that such base aims and wicked deeds are not accepted by noble souls and cannot be tolerated. Therefore, I warn you and caution you against the consequences of mistreating these people. I ask you to make way for the community of priests, monks, and deacons of that Holy City, of all denominations, whether they are Orthodox or Armenian, in their religious and worldly affairs. Do not prevent them from performing their religious rites, nor take any taxes or fines from those who go to visit the Holy Sepulchre. Do not restrict visitors to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, nor compel them to pay money under duress. If you obey, you will do well for yourselves, and if you disobey, you will do ill. Peace be upon you and the mercy of God.

News of this reached the Sultan, and he was greatly distressed and almost collapsed. It had been the custom of the Sublime Porte to publish a list of directives and changes in the government structure each year on the first day of the Great Feast. The list published that year began with the following, which means: We have decided not to appoint governors for Egypt, Jeddah, and Crete until we receive a response from Muhammad Ali Pasha to the letters and firmans we sent him regarding his rebellion and disobedience against his Caliph and Sultan, and his need to abandon the path of baseness and ignominy that he and his son Ibrahim have followed, and to return to the path of obedience and to be subdued as much as possible, God willing. Then, Minister Osman Pasha was ordered to march with a great army to fight Prince Ibrahim and reclaim the lands of the state in his possession, especially the city of Acre, and to subdue him with all his might. The Minister marched and sent letters to Prince Ibrahim, inviting him to obey his Caliph and Sultan and warning him of the consequences of rebellion and division. Prince Ibrahim paid no heed to any of this, and messengers went back and forth between the two armies for days without success. Then the two sides advanced to fight. When the two armies met, they fought fiercely, and Minister Osman Pasha and his army were defeated most shamefully. The swords of the Egyptians took them from all sides, scattering their ranks, and those who remained fled in defeat. The Egyptians plundered what was in their camp, including provisions and equipment. After this victory, Prince Ibrahim hastened with his army to the city of Homs, intending to besiege it and put pressure on it. The Minister, realizing this, began to gather the remnants of his army and marched behind the Egyptian army, harassing them with skirmishes. The Egyptian army stopped and fought him, defeating him again and slaughtering his soldiers. News of what had happened reached the Sultan's court, and the Sultan was horrified and disturbed by this situation. He sent to his governor in Homs, ordering him to stand firm and fight the Egyptian army.