What is the ruling on a woman leading men in prayer and delivering the Friday sermon?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Yesterday, the newspaper al-Riyadh published that a woman, who is called an Islamic preacher, will lead women in prayer and deliver the sermon to them on Friday, claiming this is for the liberation of the Muslim woman. This statement was accepted by some ignorant people outside this country, especially. What is the opinion on this? And is there any scholar of jurisprudence who said it is permissible for a woman to lead both women and men?

Answer:
All of this is lying and deception of the people. I do not know of anyone who said that a woman leads men. As for a woman leading women, yes. This is mentioned in the Sunnah that Umm Warakah used to lead the people of her house by the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). A woman leads women, but as for men, there is no report that a woman leads them; rather, she stands behind the row of men, even if she is alone, she stands behind the row. If she is alone, she prays behind the row. If she does not stand in the row, how can she be in front of the row? How can she be? All of this is lying and fabrication. Yes.