The Ministry of religious affairs and endowments is one of the ministerial departments of the Government. Established after independence, it serves as the State’s instrument for supporting the spiritual life of citizens, as enshrined in the country’s Constitutions, laws, and historic charters — notably the Declaration of 1 November 1954.
It is responsible for religious guidance, fatwa, Quranic education, and the dissemination of authentic Islamic culture in Algeria, as well as the management of religious affairs and the preservation of the national religious reference, which is characterized by moderation and the just middle way.
Over the course of its history, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and endowments has undergone several changes in both designation and functions:
The ministry was created under the name “Ministry of Wakfs” pursuant to Decree No. 63-80 of 4 March 1963 organizing the Ministry of Wakfs, with the mandate to manage religious affairs and wakf properties that French colonial authorities had attempted to erase and nationalize.
In 1971, its name was changed to the “Ministry of Original Islamic Education and Religious Affairs” under Decree No. 71-299 of 31 December 1971, organizing the central administration of the ministry. Its mission then encompassed original Islamic education alongside all aspects of religious affairs.
In 1980, the name was again revised to the “Ministry of Religious Affairs” under Decree No. 80-31 of 22 Rabîe al-Awal 1400 (9 February 1980) organizing the central administration of the ministry of religious affairs. This change followed the transfer of original education to the Ministry of Education pursuant to Decree No. 77-139 of 24 Shawal 1397 (8 October 1977).
In 2000, the ministry became the “Ministry of Religious Affairs and Habous” by Executive Decree No. 2000-146 of 25 Rabîe al-Awal 1421 (28 June 2000). organizing the central administration of the ministry of religious affairs and Habous .
This reflected the importance of wakf property management and the need to dedicate special attention to this vital area with a major social mission.
In 2021, Executive Decree No. 21-360 of 14 Ṣafar 1443 (21 September 2021) was promulgated, defining the responsibilities of the Minister of Religious Affairs and endowments in religious guidance, administration of mosques, Quranic education, wakfs and zakat, Islamic culture, information and communication, and training of sector’s personnel.
It also covers all matters relating to the management of religious affairs in Algeria and the protection of the national religious reference.
These major stages have been formalized through regulatory texts relating to the organization of the ministry’s central administration, from the first decree in 1963 to the present day.