Why does your website describe the opinion permitting music as anomalous, while stating on its English site that the inquirer can follow the opinion he finds reassuring? And is it true that Al-Shawkani permitted musical instruments?

What was mentioned in the question about attributing the view of permitting musical instruments to aberrance or extreme weakness is correct. Al-Shawkani supported this by saying that the matter of contention regarding musical instruments, even if it were to exit the realm of the forbidden (haram), would not exit the realm of doubt (ishtibah), and believers halt at matters of doubt. Al-Shawkani warned against singing that includes mention of figures, cheeks, and beauty, for its listener is not free from calamity, and how many a victim has this satanic means claimed.