The prohibition regarding selling [on their behalf] is for the sake of kindness toward the residents, so that the price may be affordable for them and harm may be removed from them. This is not the case in purchasing on their behalf, as they are not harmed, since there is no deception (ghabn) of the nomads; rather, it is a matter of warding off harm from them. Humanity, in the view of the Lawgiver (al-Shari'), are all equal; thus, just as He legislated what wards off harm from the residents, it does not necessarily follow that the nomads must be subjected to harm. As for the resident advising the nomad without directly engaging in the sale for him, Talha ibn Ubayd Allah, al-Awza'i, and Ibn al-Mundhir have permitted it, while Malik and al-Layth have disliked it. The statement of a Companion is a proof, so long as no contradiction of it is established.

Section: Ibn Hamid said: It is not for the Imam to set prices for the people; rather, the people sell their wealth as they choose. This is the school of al-Shafi'i. Malik used to say: It is said to one who wishes to sell for less than what people are selling at: "Sell as the people are selling, or else leave us." He argued for this with what al-Shafi'i and Sa'id ibn Mansur narrated from Dawud ibn Salih al-Tammar, from al-Qasim ibn Muhammad, from Umar, that he passed by Hatib (5) in the Musalla market, and before him were two sacks containing raisins. He asked him about their price, and he set the price for him at two mudds for every dirham. Umar said to him: "I have been informed of a caravan coming from al-Ta'if carrying raisins, and they are taking your price as a benchmark; so either raise the price, or take your raisins inside and sell them however you wish (6)." This is because in that, there is harm to the people; if he increases the price, the owners of the merchandise will follow him, and if he decreases it, he will harm the owners of the merchandise. Our evidence is what Abu Dawud, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah narrated from Anas, who said: Prices became expensive during the time of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), so they said: "O Messenger of Allah, prices have become high, so set a price for us." He said: "Indeed, Allah is the Price-Setter, the Withholder, the Expander, the Provider. I truly hope that I will meet Allah Almighty while no one seeks redress from me for an injustice regarding blood or property (7)."