Guidance for one who advises his people against building on graves

Question:
The questioner says: May Allah bless you. It is our custom in our village in Sudan to build over graves. When I advise them against it, they say, "You do not understand this." What is your guidance for me and for them?

Answer:
Continue with your advice and your forbidding of them from this evil. Explain to them that this is forbidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed those who build on graves, and those who make them into mosques and lamps. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed them and prayed against them for being driven away and kept distant from the mercy of Allah. This is what the curse means. We ask Allah for safety from it. This is because building on graves is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah) and exaggeration in them. Graves are not raised from the ground except by the height of a hand-span, so that it is known that they are graves. They are raised by the height of a hand-span and nothing is added to that. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.