How Morocco organizes religious life at home, and exports its model abroad

Morocco operates one of the most centralized religious systems in the Muslim world, with the state overseeing imam training, mosque management and the content of sermons delivered nationwide. Over the past decade, Rabat has extended that model beyond its borders, shaping religious life for Moroccan communities in Europe, Africa and Canada.

At the center of the system is the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, commonly known as the Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs. Established after independence in 1955, the ministry manages Islamic endowments, appoints imams and oversees mosque operations across the country.

It also sets official sermon themes and approves religious messaging delivered in Morocco’s roughly 53,000 mosques.

The ministry operates under the authority of King Mohammed VI, who holds the religious title “Commander of the Faithful,” making him the kingdom’s highest religious authority.

Centralized religious authority at home

Morocco’s religious framework is rooted in Sunni Islam, specifically the Maliki school of jurisprudence and Ashʿari theology. Authorities describe this tradition as moderate and historically embedded in Moroccan society.

Imams in Morocco function as state-appointed officials. The ministry trains and hires them, supervises mosque activities and monitors Quranic schools and religious education programs to ensure compliance with official doctrine and to prevent extremist discourse.

Friday sermon topics are distributed centrally, with imams required to follow approved guidance. Some sermons are broadcast nationally.

Religious rulings are further centralized through the Supreme Council of Ulema, a body of senior scholars appointed by the king. Under Moroccan law, it is the only institution authorized to issue official religious opinions, or fatwas.

The modern structure took shape largely after reforms in the early 2000s, when authorities expanded state oversight of religious education and formalized the role of imams as government employees rather than independent community leaders.

Training is conducted through institutions including the Mohammed VI Institute for the Training of Imams, which enrolls both Moroccan and foreign students. The institute has positioned Morocco as a regional hub for training religious leaders from Europe and Africa in its state-backed religious tradition.

Extending the model abroad

Morocco has increasingly projected this system internationally.

In 2024, the ministry reported sending 372 religious guides, including imams, Quran reciters and teachers, to nine countries: France, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Denmark and Canada.

Financial support accompanies personnel deployments. In 2022, the ministry allocated approximately 104 million dirhams (about $10 million) to 18 religious associations operating mosques and organizing religious services for Moroccan communities overseas.

Authorities describe these efforts as supporting diaspora communities and promoting a moderate interpretation of Islam aligned with Moroccan religious traditions.

In Europe, a Brussels-based Council of Ulemas also provides guidance and training using Morocco’s religious framework, serving Moroccan and broader Muslim communities in Western Europe.