Chapter 22
General Principles Relating to Muktzeh on Shabbath and Yom Tov
OBJECTS MUKTZEH AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF SHABBATH OR YOM TOV
1.a. An item which was muktzeh at the commencement of Shabbath or Yom Tov remains so for the whole day, even after the reason for its being muktzeh has ceased to exist. (But see the qualification set out in c of this paragraph and the exception in paragraph 11 below).
1.b. It is irrelevant whether the item was muktzeh
1) due to the application of a halachic prohibition forbidding it to be eaten, used in any way or moved or 2) because its physical state made it unfit to be eaten, used or moved.
1.c. 1) The principle only applies if the item was muktzeh, and could not be used at the commencement of Shabbath or Yom Tov, as a result of a deliberate act
2) If, however, the fact that the item was muktzeh at the commencement of Shabbath was not due to the deliberate act of any person, it ceases to be muktzeh once the reason for its being so no longer exists, and it may then be moved, or even eaten. (See paragraph 6 below for an example.)
2.a. It follows from the above that oil in a lamp which was lit before Shabbath may not be moved, even after the flame has gone out.
2.b. This is because, by kindling the flame before the beginning of Shabbath, one physically rejected the possibility of using the oil and put any thought of such use out of one’s mind, since it would have involved an infringement of the prohibition against extinguishing a flame.
