What is the ruling concerning an agent purchasing something for the principal when the principal is the one selling?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Agency
Primary text
The ruling concerning a judge and his trustee is the same as the ruling concerning an agent. The ruling concerning the sale by any of these individuals (agent, guardian, etc.) to their own agent, their minor child under their care, or their entrusted slave (abd ma'dhun) is derived from the same two narrations concerning selling to oneself. The ruling for purchasing something for the principal is analogous to the ruling for the agent selling his own property, as both situations are equivalent in essence.
Supporting text
Regarding the sale by an agent to his older son, his father, or his client who has partially gained manumission (mukatab), the jurists also subject this to the two primary narrations. Abu Hanifa permits the sale to an older son because the agent fulfilled the principal's command regarding the sale and adhered to the custom of selling to another party, similar to selling to a brother. He differentiates this from selling to his own agent or entrusted slave, as the purchase is ultimately for himself or the entity he controls.