Ijarah Muntahiyah bi al-Tamlik (Lease Ending in Ownership) for the Purchase of a Car

Question:
This questioner says: I would like to buy a new car, but I do not have the amount in cash. I went to the dealership, and I did not find installment payments there, but I found a lease with a promise of ownership, with installments, and then a final payment. The car remains in the company's name until the last payment is made. What is the ruling?

Answer:
This is not permissible. A ruling was issued by the Council of Scholars prohibiting the sale, specifically the lease ending in ownership. However, when this ruling was issued and became widespread, they changed the wording. They said it is a promise of ownership instead of a sale. They said "promise." This is a form of deception and lying to people. This is absolutely not permissible. It is either a sale or a lease only. One does not combine two contracts. Either you lease the car to him, or you sell it to him. You do not combine two contracts. Yes.