The ruling on sprinkling water on graves by cemetery workers

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success! A few days ago, while I was in one of the cemeteries in the city of Riyadh, I noticed some of the workers belonging to the cemetery coming over.

The Shaykh:
Yes.

The questioner:
A few days ago, while I was in one of the cemeteries in the city of Riyadh, I noticed some of the workers belonging to the cemetery coming to those who visit the graves of the deceased and offering to sprinkle water on the grave. What is your guidance regarding this practice? And what about the action of these workers? Is it valid or not?

The Shaykh:
No, this is not valid; this is wrong. You must report this to the committees, the committees for enjoining good and forbidding evil, the committee center near this cemetery. Report it to them so that they can take action against these workers and prevent them from doing this. These foreigners and non-natives are accustomed to certain things and wrongdoings, and they want to carry them out here. If we leave them alone, the infection will spread from them. Therefore, they must be restrained. They have no right to act in the cemeters at all, except for the work entrusted to them, which is guarding the cemetery, digging graves, and preparing the bricks and water. That is what is required of them. As for them acting upon the graves and visiting them, this must be prevented. Sprinkling water on the grave is one thing, but sprinkling it on it afterwards is a religious innovation (bid'ah).