From The Rio Times · Contributing Reporter · · 2m
Morocco Religion Explained
Morocco's state religion, king's role, and minority faiths.
In brief
Morocco's state religion, king's role, and minority faiths. Morocco's constitution makes Islam the state religion with King Mohammed VI as Commander of the Faithful, while Jews and Christians make up less than 1 percent of the population. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
Islam as State Religion
Morocco's constitution makes Islam the state religion with King Mohammed VI as Commander of the Faithful.
Sunni Muslim Majority
More than 99 percent of Moroccans are Sunni Muslims, as of 2022, with Islam as the state religion.
King's Religious Role
King Mohammed VI holds the title Commander of the Faithful and chairs the Supreme Council of the Ulema.
Religious Education
Schools teach the Maliki-Ashari tradition of Sunni Islam, except private Jewish schools.
Minority Faiths
Jews, Christians, Shia Muslims, and Baha’is together make up under 1 percent of Moroccans.
Jewish Community
Jewish leaders estimated about 3,500 Jews in Morocco as of 2022, with 2,500 in Casablanca.
Christian Presence
Foreign-resident Christian leaders estimated at least 30,000 Catholics and about 10,000 Protestants in Morocco.
Religious Law
The penal code punishes Muslims who break the fast in public during Ramadan with fines and imprisonment.
Eid al-Adha
In 2026, the king sacrificed a lamb on Eid al-Adha to mark the end of the pilgrimage season.
Religious Council
The Supreme Council of the Ulema rules on fatwas, which the king endorses by decree and parliament confirms in law.
Ministry of Endowments
Ahmed Toufiq leads the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, sworn in on 16 October 2026.
Mosque Construction
In February 2026, the king ordered 157 mosques opened before Ramadan for 647.3 million dirhams (about US$67 million).
Earthquake Damage
In 2025, the minister reported 2,217 mosques damaged by the Al Haouz earthquake of 2023.
Jewish Heritage
The monarchy backed the restoration of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries as symbols of tolerance.
Christian Churches
Morocco allows 44 registered foreign-resident Christian churches, with estimates of 30,000 Catholics and 10,000 Protestants.
Shia and Baha’i Communities
Shia leaders estimate several thousand Shia citizens, while Baha’i leaders report 350 to 400 members.
What matters most
Morocco's constitution makes Islam the state religion with King Mohammed VI as Commander of the Faithful, while Jews and Christians make up less than 1 percent of the population.
