Is a mandate valid to purchase an item when only the category (jins) is specified, such as 'a slave' or 'a garment'?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Agency
Primary text
The mandate is valid if one says, 'Buy for me a Turkish slave,' or 'a Harawi garment.' Similarly, it is valid if one says, 'Buy for me a slave,' or 'a garment,' without specifying the type (jins). The evidence supporting this is that if the agency to buy in totality is valid, it is valid for a part, analogous to the case of the slave. Furthermore, specifying the type implies permission to purchase the most expensive item of that type, thus reducing ambiguity, and stipulating the price can be detrimental, as the agent might not find an item at that price.
Supporting text
Abu Al-Khattab and the doctrine of Al-Shafi'i hold that it is invalid because the item is indeterminate (majhul). Another view among Al-Shafi'i's school mandates that the price must be specified because slaves, for instance, vary greatly within the same category, and their distinction relies on price.