Chapter 20
Categories of Muktzeh
Laws specifically relating to muktzeh on Yom Tov are explained in Chapter 21.
BASIS LA-DAVAR HA-ASSUR
55.a. An article does not become a basis la-davar ha-assur unless, at the commencement of Shabbath,
1) there is nothing on it apart from the muktzeh object or
2) the muktzeh object is not less important to the owner of the article than any other object (which is not muktzeh) that is also on the article at the time.
55.b.1) In other words, an article is not a basis la-davar ha assur (and may be moved subject to the rules set out in paragraph 47b above) if, in addition to the muktzeh object, there is also on it, at the commencement of Shabbath, an object which
a) is not muktzeh and
b) is more important to one than the muktzeh object.
2) It is sufficient if the importance of the object which is not muktzeh lies in the fact that one needs it for Shabbath, as in paragraph 59 below.
3) The article will not subsequently become a basis la-davar ha-assur, even if, during the course of the Shabbath, the object which is not muktzeh is removed, leaving the muktzeh object by itself in place.
4) It makes no difference
a) whether the muktzeh object and the object which is not muktzeh are both lying on the article or
b) whether one of them is lying on it and the other is suspended at the side of it or underneath it.
