Building graves above the surface of the ground

Question:
Also, Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Taha from al-Taif, in his message from Egypt, says that they build graves above the surface of the ground. The wealthy build graves, while the poor are buried in old graves. Often, we see their bodies through the old, ruined graves. This has become a custom. I considered building several graves for the poor in my village, but I hesitated because the Prophetic Sunnah requires burying a Muslim under the earth. I convinced everyone of this, but they did not respond. Is it permissible for me to build graves for the poor above the surface of the ground to follow the custom, or is this good deed not permissible? If I build them, will I receive reward and recompense? I ask for your guidance.

Answer:
The Sunnah is to dig in the ground for the graves, to dig in the earth and deepen the hole if the ground is suitable. The Sunnah is to dig and deepen the hole to the middle of the leg, above the navel, above the middle of the leg, meaning above the private parts. And there should be a niche in it, placed in the direction of the qiblah, where the deceased is placed. This is the Sunnah. But if the ground is poor, does not hold together, and is weak, there is no harm in securing the structure. One digs a hole for him and secures it with construction materials or boards so that it does not collapse. There is no harm in this when there is a need. As for building, it is not built. One digs for them in the ground and secures the earth with boards or stones so that the earth settles above it. This is the Sunnah: burial in the ground. Building is not what is appropriate. But if one wants to do good, he digs a suitable hole for them and revives the Sunnah. He does not agree with them in what they have innovated. Rather, the believer revives the Sunnah, calls to it, and is patient with the hardship in it. This is what is appropriate for the believer. Among the calamities that have befallen people now, but from a long river, is building on graves. The grave is in the ground or in a trench in the ground, and then a dome or a mosque is built on it. This is from bid'ah (religious innovations) and from the great abominations, and from the means of shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is a reality in Egypt, al-Sham, Iraq, and elsewhere. It was also a reality in Makkah al-Mukarramah and al-Baqi' until Allah removed it by the hand of the Saudi government. They did well in that, may Allah reward them with good, because they removed the innovations. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade that. He forbade building on graves and plastering them. He said, "May Allah curse the Jews and the Christians who took the graves of their prophets as mosques." This is the obligation upon the rulers of the Muslims: to prevent building on graves, to prevent taking the graves as places of prostration, and praying at them, and that they not be circled, and that they not be called upon besides Allah, and that aid not be sought from their inhabitants. All of this is from the abominations. But building is from the means of shirk. As for calling upon the dead, seeking aid from the dead, and seeking help, this is major shirk, and worship of other than Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He), as is the reality in some countries. So one should beware of this and warn people against it. Yes.