Q.1. People in many countries buy expensive items by installments; a practice that involves paying more than the cash price. Is this permissible?
Q.2. In some countries, students in higher education receive loans from government to pay for their expenses, and they start repayment after they are in employment. Is this permissible, considering that a low rate of interest is applied?
Q.3. If a mother tries to teach her children how to pray, by standing like an imam and reading aloud, is this acceptable?
S.Y.A., Riyadh
A.1. If the seller says to you: this car will cost you 50,000 if you pay cash, or 55,000 if you pay over a period of one year, this is perfectly acceptable. On the other hand, if he says to you: if you cannot pay the whole price immediately, I will lend you the money, but you pay me 5,000 extra, then that is a usurious loan, and it is forbidden.
The difference is not in how you pay and how much you pay in both situations, but in how the matter is looked upon. In the first case, which is acceptable, one price is set for cash payment, and one for installments. In the other case, a loan is given which is then repaid in a larger amount. That is usury, or riba.
A.2. Normally governments which provide loans to students during their higher education charge a very low rate to cover the administrative expenses of running the scheme. They are not in it for profit, but they operate it to help students get their education, and repay the loans so that the funds can pay for the education of other students. There is nothing wrong with that.
A.3. There is nothing wrong with teaching prayer in the method you have described, because it is far more effective than plain instruction. If the mother is alone with her children, and they are too young for any son to lead the prayer, then she does well to teach them by example.