What is the religious ruling on buying Mubarak apartments, which are available through the Housing and Development Bank, with a down payment of 5,000 EGP and increasing monthly installments (150 EGP increasing by 2% annually); knowing that their original price is 65,000 EGP and they become 70,000-75,000 EGP this way?

The ruling on the permissibility of selling the aforementioned apartments depends on knowing the true nature of the contract. It could either be a lease ending in ownership, or an installment purchase. The permissible form of installment purchase is for the bank to genuinely buy the apartment and then sell it to the client at a higher price, paid in installments. As for the forbidden form, it is for the bank to pay the price of the apartment on behalf of the client, and then the client repays it with an increase. This is an interest-based loan (riba) and is not permissible except in cases of dire necessity according to Islamic law.