The Ruling on Murabahah Sales

Question:
May Allah reward you. This questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, regarding murabahah (a cost-plus sale), where the bank purchases the car for the customer in the following manner: the bank sends a person to the showroom, and the customer selects the car himself. Then he returns to the bank with the invoice for the car he selected. Then the bank purchases the car and sells it to me via murabahah. Knowing that I receive the car from the showroom after the bank has purchased it, and the bank does not transport the car to me.

Answer:
This is a deception regarding the sale of what one does not own. The car is not his; it belongs to the showroom. You go and see the car that suits you, then he buys it for you. He did not buy it for himself; he bought it for you, and he pays its price on your behalf as a loan with an increase. This is riba (usury or interest). It is obligatory that the car be in his ownership before you ask him to sell it to you. The car must be in his ownership; you buy it from him and take delivery of it. As for him not having cars, and he lures you with other people’s cars, then buys them for you and pays their price as a loan with an increase, this is riba, and it is a stratagem to reach riba. Yes.