The Ruling on One Who Permits Singing and Free Mixing of Men and Women

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, what is your view of those who permit singing? What is the Permanent Committee’s view of those who permit singing and free mixing of men and women, claiming that it is lawful? And what is your advice to those who issue such rulings?

Answer:
These are matters that are not new; they are old, and the problem is an old one. There is discourse from the scholars of knowledge and refutations of those who permitted free mixing of men and women, and refutations of those who permitted singing and its instruments. Its instruments, such as flutes, music, and the like. These are refuted, and all praise is due to Allah. All the doubts raised by those who permit it have been refuted and dismantled. There are lengthy and concise books on this.
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) wrote a large section on this topic in his book *Ighathat al-Lahfan*. He also has a standalone book that was published titled *Al-Sama' al-Kabir*, in which he refuted these doubts with a refutation that leaves nothing to be added. So, all praise is due to Allah, no doubt remains for them to raise that is not exposed and revealed. Yes.
As for abandoning the congregational prayer, praise be to Allah, as you know, a statement was issued by the Permanent Committee to suppress and respond to those who spoke about it. The ruling is available; request it from the Ifta department and take a copy from it. And after its issuance, as you know, praise be to Allah, the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) subsided, and the tongues that spoke recklessly about it were silenced. This is from the grace of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). Yes.