In ijara muntahia bittamleek (ijara that ends with ownership), the lease agreement is associated with the option (khiyar) to own the leased asset at the end of the lease period. In ijara thumma bay’, the agreement incorporates the sale of the leased asset at the end of the lease period. Specifically, in the former, ownership transfer is an option given to the lessee, while in the latter this option is not granted to the lessee.
However, both structures may involve two types of transactions: a lease contract and a sale contract. If the option is exercised in ijara muntahia bittamleek, then both types of ijarah would lead to the same result.
