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Rusgh (the wrist): the limit of washing the hands in ablution and of wiping them in tayammum, and the place of the cut in theft

الرسغ

Rusgh in the lexicon is the joint between the forearm and the palm; in the jurists' usage it marks the limit of washing the hands in ablution and wiping them in tayammum, and the place of the cut for theft. 1 2 It is a sunna to wash the hands up to the wrists at the start of ablution. 1 3 The jurists differ on wiping in tayammum: the Hanafis, the Shafi'is in the school's view and some Malikis take the elbows; the Hanbalis, a view of Abu Hanifa, most Malikis and the older Shafi'i view take the wrists; al-Zuhri and Muhammad ibn Maslama (may God be pleased with him) take the shoulders. 3 2 The jurists of the cities hold that a thief's hand is cut from the wrist. 2

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Era
The Prophetic Era
Region
Global / Diaspora
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Worship and the pillarsCrime and punishment

Summary

Rusgh in the lexicon is the joint between the forearm and the palm; in the jurists' usage it marks the limit of washing the hands in ablution and wiping them in tayammum, and the place of the cut for theft. 1 2 It is a sunna to wash the hands up to the wrists at the start of ablution. 1 3 The jurists differ on wiping in tayammum: the Hanafis, the Shafi'is in the school's view and some Malikis take the elbows; the Hanbalis, a view of Abu Hanifa, most Malikis and the older Shafi'i view take the wrists; al-Zuhri and Muhammad ibn Maslama take the shoulders. 3 2 The jurists of the cities hold that a thief's hand is cut from the wrist. 2

People and things also explored

Hudb (eyelashes: injury and washing in ablution)· The ruling on one who abandons prayer· Ada' (performance of an obligation within its time)· Adhan (the call to prayer: its ruling, wording, conditions, recommended features and the muezzin)· Bone (adhm): purity, use and retaliation· The adornment of desires and the goods of this world· The people of the bench (ahl al-suffa)· The earth made a place of prayer and purity

Sources

  1. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8731
  2. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8733
  3. al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaitiyya, Noor-Book copy (file named v3) , p.8732
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Rusgh (the wrist): the limit of washing the hands in ablution and of wiping them in tayammum, and the place of the cut in theft”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/rusgh-fiqh/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-23.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Hudb (eyelashes: injury and washing in ablution)

Hudb is the hair growing on the eyelids; the hair above the eyes is called hajib. For injuring a single eyelash so that it is pulled out and does not regrow, the Hanafis and Hanbalis hold a full diya is due, while the Malikis and Shafi'is hold neither retaliation nor diya applies, only an assessed compensation (hukuma). On washing the eyelashes in ablution: if the hair is dense and does not show the skin, washing its outer surface suffices according to the Malikis and Hanbalis, with combing it recommended for the Hanbalis; the Hanafis require passing water over the hair without washing beneath it, while the Shafi'is require washing both outer and inner surfaces.