The Ruling on a Lease Contract Ending in Ownership

The questioner:
We have a caller from Khamis Mushait. Please go ahead. Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. And upon you be peace, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Please go ahead. Shaykh, my question, Shaykh, is that I want to buy a car through a lease with ownership, or with a promise of ownership. What is the ruling on that?

The Shaykh:
This is not permissible. The sale must be immediate; it cannot be contingent on a future ending in ownership. This is not permissible. A decision has been issued by the Committee of Senior Scholars forbidding it. Yes.

The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good, Shaykh. But nowadays, the majority, ninety percent of people, buy cars in this manner. Why is it not prevented? If it is possible, if it is forbidden and not permissible, why is it not prevented, I mean, by the government?

The Shaykh:
A Muslim refrains when he is informed of the ruling of the Shari'ah. He refrains. It is not necessary that he be prevented; he prevents himself. Yes.