is unlawful; it is deception. Treat people as you would like them to treat you: do not deceive them or cheat them.

If he sells it to his daughter, she too is included among one’s children, for Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, a share equal to that of two females.” [al-Nisa’ 4:11] Thus Allah has included the female among one’s children, and this is indeed the case.

Some scholars said that he may sell to his child, father, mother, grandmother, daughter, or daughter’s daughter, unless preferential treatment is apparent. This is because the principal appointed him to sell and did not say, “Do not sell to these people.” The wording encompasses both these people and others. This view is correct, unless he is their business partner, since the reality of the matter is that he has sold to himself. Accordingly, he may sell to his brothers, paternal uncles, and nephews, so long as he is not their partner.

Issue: If he may not sell to himself, may he appoint someone to purchase it for him?

For example, the principal gives him this car to sell. We say that it is not valid for him to sell it to himself. But he says, “So-and-so, I am not allowed to buy it for myself, but I appoint you to buy it for me.” Then his agent continues bidding until the final bid is his and he purchases it. This is not permissible, because it is a legal stratagem, and his agent stands in his place.

Since the agent is not permitted to purchase the commodity for himself, neither is he permitted to increase its price.

For example, he displays it before the people and says, “Who will bid ten thousand, or twelve thousand?” He himself wishes to raise the bid, so when someone says twelve thousand, he says, “Thirteen thousand”—that is, the agent, who is called the broker,