The ruling on sprinkling water on graves by cemetery workers

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, a few days ago, while I was at one of the cemeteries in the city of Riyadh, I noticed some of the workers belonging to the cemetery. A few days ago, I noticed that at one of the cemeteries in the city of Riyadh, some of the workers belonging to the cemetery come to those who visit the graves and offer to sprinkle water on the grave. What is your guidance regarding this action? And what about the action of these workers? Is it valid or not?

Answer:
This is not valid; this is wrong. You must report this to the authorities, the bodies for enjoining good and forbidding evil, the headquarters of the bodies near this cemetery. Report it to them so that they can put a stop to these workers and prevent them from this excess. These foreigners and non-locals are accustomed to things and wrongdoings and want to carry them out here. If we leave them alone, the infection will spread from them. So, you must take action against them. They have no authority in the cemeteries at all, except for the work assigned to them, which is guarding the cemetery, digging graves, and preparing the bricks and water. This is what is required of them. As for them acting on the graves and providing this, it must be prevented. Yes. And it is not permissible to sprinkle water except at the time of burial, after the burial is completed, when water is sprinkled on it. As for sprinkling it on it after that, this is a bid'ah (religious innovation). Yes.