What is the ruling on installment-based car sale contracts that include a final balloon payment, where the customer can either return the car, pay in cash, or refinance with installments and profit? And what is the ruling on working for a company that deals with such contracts?

Selling a car by installments is permissible, but if, after the completion of the installment payments, two options are stipulated: either refinancing the remaining amount with profit, or paying the remaining installment in cash, or returning the car, then refinancing with profit is Islamically prohibited; because it involves the cancellation of one debt with another, which leads to an increase in the debt in exchange for an extension of the term. As for paying the remaining installment in cash, there is no objection to it. Returning the car is not clear in meaning, and the contract must be reviewed to ensure it conforms to Sharia regulations.