What is the ruling when the principal and agent disagree regarding a completed transaction and collection of the proceeds?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Agency
Primary text
If the agent claims to have sold an item and collected the price, which subsequently was lost, but the principal denies the sale or collection, the agent's statement is accepted, according to Ibn Hamid and the opinion of the *Ashaab al-Ra'y* (jurists who prioritize opinion/reasoning), because the agent is authorized to sell and collect, so their statement regarding these actions is accepted, similar to the guardian authorized to contract a marriage on behalf of a woman.
Supporting text
There is an alternative view that the agent's statement is not accepted because they are admitting a right belonging to a third party against their principal, analogous to admitting a debt owed by the principal. If the agency was to purchase a slave, and they disagree on the price paid, the agent's statement prevails unless the principal specified the exact amount for the purchase.