Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
1.
Shah Waliullah Muhaddith Dehlawi rahimahullah writes in the explanation of the chapter headings of Bukhari that Imam Bukhari radi Allahu anhu’s position in this matter is the same as that of the Zahiri scholars and some other mujtahids: that tayammum should be performed on the face and palms only, and that specifying up to the elbows is not necessary, even though the majority holds the opposite view.
The position of the Zahiri scholars is that in tayammum, wiping is only up to the palms.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal rahimahullah also holds this view.
Imam Bukhari radi Allahu anhu, through the narrations he presents, supports this position.
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah clarifies Imam Bukhari’s position in these words:
It is obligatory that in tayammum, only the face and palms be wiped.
Imam Bukhari has titled the chapter with definitive wording,
even though there is well-known disagreement in this matter.
This is because Imam Bukhari possesses a very strong proof for this; among all the hadiths transmitted regarding the manner of tayammum, only the hadiths of Abu Juhaym radi Allahu anhu and Ammar radi Allahu anhu are authentic.
Other than these, the rest of the hadiths are either weak or there is disagreement about whether they are mawquf or marfu‘.
The correct view is that they are mawquf.
In the hadith of Abu Juhaym, the mention of the hands is general, and in the hadith of Ammar radi Allahu anhu, the mention is specifically of the palms,
as is stated in the Sahihayn. However, the mention of elbows, half the forearm, and armpits is found in the books of Sunan. The narrations in which half the forearm or elbows are mentioned have been much discussed, and as for those narrations in which the armpits are mentioned, regarding them Imam Shafi‘i rahimahullah says: If it is established by the command of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, then his practical example has abrogated it, and if it is not established by his command, then how can it be used as evidence?
The narration of the Sahihayn, which suffices with the face and palms, is also supported by the fatwa of Ammar radi Allahu anhu, who after the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would give the fatwa that only the face and palms should be wiped.
The narrator of the hadith can best understand its intent, especially when he is also a mujtahid.
(Fath al-Bari: 576)
Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah has written, quoting some scholars, that the hadith of Ammar is not a valid proof due to its irregularity (idtirab), because in some of its chains, wiping up to the shoulders and armpits is mentioned.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, by narrating from his six different teachers, has established that the narration mentioning wiping the palms and face is stronger than the other narrations, including the one mentioning shoulders and armpits.
(Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Taharah, Hadith: 318)
Imam Tirmidhi rahimahullah has transmitted the answer to this in these words: It is not contrary to the narration of the face and palms, because Ammar radi Allahu anhu does not say that when he asked the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam about this, he was commanded to wipe only the palms and face.
Then, Ammar radi Allahu anhu continued to give the fatwa after the life of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam that in tayammum, only the palms and face should be wiped.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-Taharah, Hadith: 144)

2.
‘Ikramah narrates from Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu anhu that someone asked him about tayammum, so he said:
Allah the Exalted has said regarding ablution (wudu):
﴿فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ﴾ “So wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows.”
(al-Ma’idah: 5:6)
And regarding tayammum He said:
﴿فَامْسَحُوا بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ﴾ “So wipe your faces and your hands with it (pure earth).”
(al-Ma’idah: 5:38)
Regarding the cutting of the thief’s hand, the command of Allah the Exalted is:
﴿وَالسَّارِقُ وَالسَّارِقَةُ فَاقْطَعُوا أَيْدِيَهُمَا﴾ “As for the male thief and the female thief, cut off their hands.”
(al-Ma’idah: 5:38)
The Sunnah has clarified that in theft, the palms are to be cut; similarly, in the matter of tayammum, it is clarified that only the hands and palms are to be wiped.
(Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, al-Taharah, Hadith: 144)