What is the religious ruling on selling gold ingots by gold merchants to artisans in installments, then selling the manufactured gold by artisans to jewelers in installments, and from them to consumers also in installments? And is it religiously acceptable under difficult economic circumstances?

The transactions mentioned in the question – a merchant selling to a consumer or artisan in installments, and an artisan selling to a merchant – are not permissible in Islamic law. This is because they involve selling gold (represented by paper currency) for gold or silver with a delay in possession, which is forbidden in Islamic law. Immediate possession must take place at the contract session when selling gold for paper currency or silver, and because installment selling in this context falls under the category of usury, which is prohibited in Islamic law.