Does the instruction to 'act according to your opinion' authorize the agent to engage in agricultural cultivation (farming)?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Partnership
Primary text
If the principal instructs the agent to 'act according to your opinion,' the agent is permitted to do so. Regarding cultivation, it is plausible that it is not authorized because the term *mudarabah* (profit-sharing partnership) does not inherently imply farming. However, it has been narrated from Ahmad that if a person entrusts another with a thousand and instructs them, 'Trade with it as you wish,' and the agent uses it for cultivation, making a profit, the *mudarabah* is valid, and the profit is shared between them.
Supporting text
The apparent meaning of the statement 'Trade with it as you wish' implies that cultivation is included, as it is a method sought for growth. Consequently, if the principal intended all the capital to be used in cultivation, the agent would not be liable to guarantee the principal's capital.