The Ruling on Placing Cement on Graves

Question:
May Allah reward you with good. Is it permissible to place cement on graves? Please guide us. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
It is not permissible to place cement on graves except out of necessity, if the ground is not firm and collapses, so that the grave is dug and then built with bricks or stones or other building materials to prevent collapse, and then the deceased is placed in it; there is no harm in that. However, if the ground is firm and strong, the grave is dug for the deceased, a niche is made for him, and he is placed in the niche, then the niche is sealed with bricks or other materials, then earth is heaped over it and leveled, and it is not raised except by the width of a hand’s breadth from the ground. This is the Sunnah regarding the grave. As for building a structure on the grave that is elevated and high, this is not permissible, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited building on graves, because this is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). He said to 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him): "Do not leave a grave that is elevated, meaning raised, except that you level it," meaning you remove it and level it with the ground, instead of it being raised and towering, because this is one of the means to shirk. Yes.