The Constitution makes Islam the state religion and requires laws to remain consistent with Islamic principles. It also limits religious expression by those principles and places a duty on citizens to preserve and protect Islam. The Maldives has no reliable official census of denominations, but public offices, parliament, the cabinet and the judiciary are held by Muslims who follow the Sunni school. Non-Muslim foreign residents include Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews and Christians, but no reliable affiliation figures or public non-Islamic congregational institutions are evidenced. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments manages national religious administration, mosques, imams, sermons and religious programs. The Islamic Centre, also known as Masjid Sultan Mohamed Thakurufaanul Auzam, is a major national Islamic institution. Local councils work with the ministry on island-level mosque and funeral operations. Mosques receive state control, maintenance or funding, and Friday sermons may use government-approved content. The Supreme Council of Fatwa provides scholarly guidance on Islamic law, fatwas and religious differences. Muslim practice includes five daily prayers, mosque congregations, Jumu'ah or Friday prayer with a Khutbah sermon, Quran and Sunnah study, Ramadan fasting, Taraweeh night prayers, Eid prayers, Zakat, Hajj and Umra. Imams lead daily, Friday, Eid, Taraweeh and authorized funeral prayers. Zakat al-mal concerns charitable payment on qualifying wealth, while Zakat al-fitr is associated with the end of Ramadan. The Maldives Zakat House has administered Zakat since 1 January 2026; the former Ministry of Islamic Affairs Zakat House was dissolved. A 2025 report recorded support of MVR 4,000 per month for Hafiz, a person who has memorized the Quran. The official 2026 calendar lists the first day of Ramadan on 18 February, the last ten days from 9 to 19 March, Eid al-Fitr from 20 to 22 March, Hajj Day on 26 May, Eid al-Adha from 27 to 30 May, the Islamic New Year on 16 June, Prophet Mohammad's Birthday on 25 August and The Day Maldives Embraced Islam on 13 September. Islamic dates follow the lunar calendar and public closures or local arrangements follow the applicable official calendar. Islam and Spirituality is compulsory in the national curriculum from pre-school through higher secondary education. Quran is taught from pre-school through lower secondary school, while Quran and Sunnah are taught at higher secondary level. The curriculum covers Quran recitation and meaning, Hadith, the Articles of Iman, Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic history and civilization, and Islamic discipline. The national assessment system includes Islam assessment at Key Stage 3 from 2025. The National Centre for the Holy Quran offers certificate, diploma and degree pathways. No non-Islamic religious curriculum or opt-out pathway is evidenced. The Religious Unity Act and its amendments prohibit non-Islamic propagation, proselytism, public non-Islamic worship and encouraging Maldivians to adopt another religion. The Penal Code criminalizes public criticism or insult of Islam, Allah, the Quran, the Prophet or the Sunnah. Conversion from Islam to another religion is prohibited and may result in loss of citizenship; sharia penalties for apostasy are legally discretionary and contested, and no verified current execution claim is established. Non-Muslims may worship privately in a residence, including resort accommodation, within legal limits. Personal religious literature may be permitted case by case, while non-Islamic worship buildings are prohibited. Marriage approval follows Islamic Sharia and Maldivian law. Both parties submit an application at least seven days before solemnization. A Maldivian woman may not marry a non-Muslim man, while a Maldivian man may marry a non-Muslim woman only when Islamic Sharia permits it. The Family Court or Registrar of Marriages handles registration. After legal registration, a foreign spouse can receive a Marriage Visa initially for one year, with renewals of up to five years. Birth registration may require Arabic name verification against the Islamic Ministry registry. The ministry and local councils oversee funeral services, and an authorized mosque imam performs the funeral prayer. The Maldives Hajj Corporation Limited provides Hajj, Umra and Aqiqah or Ageega services; Aqiqah is an Islamic ceremony connected with the birth of a child. Since 2025, a Saudi pre-clearance and luggage-transfer initiative has supported eligible Hajj travellers. Access to mosques and local services depends on the island and local council arrangements. Exact fees for marriage, pilgrimage, Umra, Aqiqah and other services vary by provider, and no universal tariff is evidenced.
Religion in Maldives
Islam is the state religion of the Maldives, and citizens are legally Muslim. Public religious life follows Sunni Islam through mosques, Islamic education, prayer, Ramadan, religious holidays and state-supervised institutions. Non-Muslim foreign residents may worship privately within legal limits, but public non-Islamic congregations and propagation are prohibited.
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