Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Maldives)
| އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާ Islamee Kanthakaa Behey Vuzaara | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1996 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of the Maldives |
| Headquarters | Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Medhuziyaaraiy Magu, Malé 20156, Maldives |
| Annual budget | MVR 29.6 Million[1] |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Deputy Ministers responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Website | islamicaffairs |
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs (Dhivehi: އިސްލާމީ ކަންތައްތަކާ ބެހޭ ވުޒާރާ) is a government agency of the Republic of Maldives, handling the country's religious affairs. It was previously known as Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and was constituted by the president of Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1996.[4] The institution was renamed in November 2008,[5] by the president of the Maldives, Mohamed Nasheed. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs' mandate is established by Constitution of Maldives.
Responsibilities
- Advising the government of Maldives on religious matters.[6]
- Governing the religious views of the general population.[6]
- Maintaining and publishing Hidhaayathuge Ali'[6]
- Duties under Preservation of Religious Unity law 94/6.[6]
- Overseeing issues related to Friday prayer.[6]
- Inspecting and approving religious texts.[6]
- Maintenance of mosques in Maldives.[6]
- Setting the Islamic calendar to be followed by Maldivians.[6]
- Prohibition of religious preaching except Islamic.[6]
- Management of Zakāt and related aspects. Management of funds.[6]
- Overseeing Hajj related matters.[6]
- Maintaining the Islamic Library in Islamic Centre.[6]
- Maintaining the prayer times followed in Maldives[6]
- Advising and assisting in various educational institutions in religious matters.[6]
- Maintaining the Centre for Qur'anic Studies.[6]
- Other religion-related matters.[6]
Ministers
| No. | Portrait | Name (Born-Died) |
Term | Political Party | Government | Ref. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs | ||||||||
| 1 | Moosa Fathuhy | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ? | Unknown | [7] | |
| 2 | Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ? | Unknown | [7] | |
| Ministry of Islamic Affairs | ||||||||
| 3 | Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari (1963–2018) | 12 November 2008 | 7 February 2012 | 4 years, 25 days | AP | Nasheed | [7] | |
| 4 | Mohamed Shaheem (born 1977) | 19 February 2012 | 06 May 2015 | 3 years, 76 days | AP | Waheed Yameen | [7] | |
| 5 | Ahmed Ziyad Baqir (born 1975) | 06 May 2015 | 17 November 2018 | 3 years, 195 days | PPM | Yameen | [7] | |
| 6 | Ahmed Zahir Ali | 17 November 2018 | 17 November 2023 | 5 years, 0 days | AP | Solih | [7] | |
| 7 | Mohamed Shaheem (born 1977) | 17 November 2023 | Incumbent | 2 years, 124 days | PNC | Muizzu | [8] | |
See also
References
- ^ "Budget 2024 - Ministry of Islamic Affairs". Maldives Budget. Ministry of Finance, Maldives. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Archives - Ministry of Islamic Affairs ސިޔާސީ އިސްވެރިން". Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Maldives.
- ^ a b c d e f "Archives - Ministry of Islamic Affairs އިދާރީ އިސްވެރިން". Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Maldives.
- ^ Roul, Animesh (27 March 2023). "The Threat from Rising Extremism in the Maldives". Combat Terrorism Center. Archived from the original on 26 May 2017.
- ^ "Ministry of Islamic Affairs". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Ministry of Islamic Affairs". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-07-03.
- ^ a b c d e f "ކުރީގެ ވެރިންނާއި ވަޒީރުން" [Former ministers and leaders]. Ministry of Islamic Affairs (in Divehi). Retrieved 4 September 2025.
- ^ "The President appoints members to the Cabinet". The President's Office. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
External links
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs (in Dhivehi)