Scraping and Applying Ash on a Stove
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Question
Hello Rabbi. It is known from Mishnah, Chapter 3, Tractate Shabbat, that a person can place a dish on a stove after scraping or applying ash on the coals. Does this mean that these actions (scraping or applying ash) were done before Shabbat?
Answer
Hello Rabbi
Regarding the permission to leave or return a dish on a stove that is scraped or covered with ash, there is no difference whether this was done on Shabbat or before.
However, on Shabbat itself, there is an issue with scraping coals - due to kindling or extinguishing, as well as the prohibition of muktzeh. Also, covering the coals with ash is prohibited - because it slightly extinguishes the coals underneath.
However, if one covers the fire in a way that avoids these issues, such as what is common today, where the stove flames are covered with metal, this permits leaving and returning even if done on Shabbat.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 253 and 254.