What is the required extent for wiping the hands during Tayammum (dry ablution) concerning a thief whose hand has been amputated?
Chapter on Tayammum
Al-Mughni
Book of Purification
Primary text
The wiping of the hands during Tayammum must extend to the location from which the hand of a thief is amputated. Ahmad indicated this when questioned about Tayammum, pointing to his palm and not exceeding it. This is based on the statement of Allah Almighty: "As for the thief, both the male and the female, amputate their hands" (Quran 5:38). If the amputation occurred above the wrist (rasgh), the obligation to wipe the hands in Tayammum ceases. If the amputation is below the wrist, the remaining part is wiped. If the amputation is at the joint, the area of the cut must be wiped. This is affirmed because the wrists in Tayammum are analogous to the elbows in Wudu (ablution); just as the remaining part is washed if the arm is amputated above the elbow in Wudu, the remaining bone must be wiped here.
Supporting text
The view is held that if the amputation is at the wrist, the obligation falls away because the required location, the palm which is taken in theft, is gone. However, passing dust over the remaining bone is recommended. The wiping of the remaining bone when the palm is gone is only due to the necessity of completing the required action; since the original mandated part has been removed, what was necessitated by it is dropped, analogous to someone from whom washing the face is removed not being obligated to wash any part of the head, or someone from whom fasting is removed not being obligated to abstain from any part of the night.