category in which agency is valid without restriction—that is, whether the contracts are gratuitous transfers, exchange contracts, marriage contracts, acts establishing security, or otherwise. Contracts involving human rights begin with sale: thus, one may appoint an agent to sell or purchase. The same applies to leasing: one may appoint someone to rent a house for him or to lease out his house. Likewise, in pledges, one may appoint someone to take something as security on his behalf or to pledge something on his behalf. The same applies to an endowment: he may say, “I appoint you as my agent to establish my particular house as an endowment and register it with the court.”
His statement, “and dissolutions”: these apply to every contract.
For example, a person purchases something defective and appoints someone to rescind the sale with the seller. He says, “I bought such-and-such a car from So-and-so and found a defect in it. I do not wish to dispute with him, because he is a powerful and eloquent man. I have therefore appointed you as my agent to rescind the sale with him.” This is permissible.
A husband may appoint a man as his agent to arrange a khulʿ separation with his wife. Khulʿ is separation in return for compensation, for divorce in return for compensation is one matter, whereas khulʿ is another. According to the school, a divorce in return for compensation is counted as a divorce. Thus, if it were the final divorce in return for compensation, she would become unlawful to him. But if it is khulʿ, and he had previously divorced her twice, she does not become unlawful to him, because khulʿ is a dissolution, not a divorce.
Therefore, if he appoints someone as his agent to arrange a khulʿ separation with his wife, this is permissible. However, he must specify the amount of compensation, for he may appoint an agent to arrange khulʿ with his wife while she is very precious to him and he would not be willing to separate from her for less than ten thousand. Yet the agent may arrange her khulʿ for one thousand riyals; thus, specification is necessary.