The ruling on the testimony of an open sinner when open sinfulness becomes widespread among the people

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. In this age, many wrongs have spread among the people, to the point that many of them commit acts that strip them of their integrity. If the claim and testimony of an open sinner are not accepted, the interests of the people are hindered. What is the ruling in this case?

Answer:
First, who is the open sinner? Because some of the brothers and some of the zealous ones declare someone to be an open sinner for the slightest deviation. No, the open sinner is the one against whom it is established that he commits a major sin, such as drinking intoxicants, consuming intoxicants, committing unlawful sexual intercourse, theft, and the like. If it is established that he engages in any of the major sins, he is an open sinner.
His testimony is not accepted unless the entire town is of this type. In that case, the testimony of the most just of the open sinners is accepted, as Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said. The testimony of the most just of the open sinners and the one closest to truthfulness is accepted, because otherwise the interests of the people would be hindered. So the best of the best in every age is according to its circumstances, in every age according to its circumstances. Yes.