Muktzah

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Muktza (Hebrew: מוקצה; also transliterated as Muktzah, Muktsah, Muktsa, Muktzeh, etc.) is a Hebrew word that means "separated", or "set aside." It is used as an halakhic term for objects or substances that Jews may not move or handle during Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath). Halakha defines various categories of objects or substances which are "set aside" on the Jewish Sabbath, as well as various permissible instances of moving these various Muktza items. For example, one may not handle money, rocks, twigs, etc. on Shabbat, as these items are "Muktza."
The general consensus among the halachik authorities is that muktza is an issur d'rabanan, or a rabbinic prohibition, rather than a d'oreisa , or biblical prohibition.
The laws of Muktza can be divided into two distinct subjects: a) "Muktza", i.e. the conditions needed for something to become muktza, AND the properties of the various categories thereof; and b) "Tiltul", i.e. if an item is indeed determined to be Muktza, it must be determined when and how it may be moved.

[edit] General Concept of Muktza

Muktza is essentially a restriction on objects that were not 'prepared' before the Sabbath. The absence of prepairedness in this sense means that the vast majority of people would not expect to use this particaular item or substance on Shabbat.

[edit] Categories

There are four main categories of muktza, each one with different halakhic ramifications:

Muktza Mahmat Gufo – An object or substance not designed or prepared for any use (sometimes referred to as not having a 'torat keli').
Keli she'Melakhto le'Isur – An object that is used most of the time for activities prohibited on Shabbat (e.g. a pencil - writing is forbidden on Shabbat).
Muktza Mahmat Hisaron Kis – An object that is a Keli she'Melakhto le'Isur and that the owner of which is strict not to use it in any other way for fear of potential damage (e.g. a guitar-its use is prohibited on Shabbat and most people would not use it as a stepping stool).
Basis le-Davar he-Asur – an object on which a muktza object was placed before Shabbat (e.g. a table on which candlesticks were placed before Shabbat).