Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

The ministry handles all religious affairs in Kuwait, including regulating all places of worship in the country,{{cite news | last=Garcia | first=Ben | title=Getting to know the Christians in Kuwait | work=Kuwait Times | date=23 March 2017 | url=http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/getting-know-christians-kuwait/ | access-date=21 March 2018}} overseeing religious groups and activities,{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2010_5/168268.htm|author=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (United States)|title=July-December, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report |date=September 13, 2011 |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127351.htm|author=Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (United States)|title=International Religious Freedom Report 2009 |date=October 26, 2009 |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news | last=Stauffer | first=McKenzie |date=3 April 2019 | title=The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially recognized in Kuwait | work=KJZZ |publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group | url=http://kjzz.com/news/local/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-officially-recognized-in-kuwait | access-date=9 March 2020}} issuing fatwas through its Fatwa Committee,{{r|women2018}}{{cite news |author=Staff Writer |date=16 January 2018 |title=Kuwait issues fatwas against Bitcoin trading |work=Arab Times |url=https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/no-bitcoin-fatwas-issued-trading-bitcoin/ |access-date=9 March 2020}} and organizing and regulating the annual Hajj for Kuwaiti residents.{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/hajj-saudi-imam-decries-inter-muslim-conflict-170826052531077.html|title=Before Hajj, Saudi imam decries inter-Muslim conflict|date=26 August 2017 |work=al Jazeera |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/25/02/2017/Qatar-announces-date-for-online-Haj-registration|title=Qatar announces date for online Haj registration |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=25 February 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news|last=Al-Seyassah |first=Abdulnasser Al-Aslami |url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/ministry-unable-adjust-costs-hajj-umrah-trips-survey-shows-kuwaits-prices-cheapest/|title='Ministry unable to adjust costs of Hajj, Umrah trips' - Survey shows Kuwait's prices are cheapest |date=10 June 2016|work=Arab Times|access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/495252/No-change-in-Qatar-s-quota-for-Haj-this-year|title='No change' in Qatar's quota for Haj this year|date=29 May 2016|work=Gulf Times |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |last=Saleh |first=A. |url=http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/ministry-announce-hajj-registration-deadlines/|title=Ministry announce hajj registration deadlines |work=Kuwait Times|date=8 June 2016|access-date=21 March 2018}} The ministry's Moon Sighting Committee is responsible for determining the dates of Islamic holidays such as Eid Al-Fitr, according to the lunar calendar.{{cite news | title=Eid 2019 Moon Announcement from Saudi Arabia, UAE and other Arab States| work=ummid.com News Network | date=3 June 2018 | url=https://ummid.com/news/2019/june/03.06.2019/eid-2019-saudi-arabia-uae-qatar-kuwait-moon-sighting-live.html | access-date=9 March 2020}}

The ministry actively promotes tolerance and moderation in Islamic faith. It promotes memorization and recitation of the Quran.{{cite news |date=20 July 2017 |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/20/07/2017/Free-summer-course-for-kids-to-learn-Holy-Quran-today-last-day-to-apply|title=Free summer course for kids to learn Holy Quran; today last day to apply |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |date=21 February 2018 |title=His Highness the Amir patronizes, attends Quran competition ceremony |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2692725&language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/14/12/2017/Holy-Quran-contest-winners-honoured|title=Holy Quran contest winners honoured |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=14 December 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/31/12/2017/Winners-of-the-Holy-Quran-reciting-contest-honoured|title=Winners of the Holy Quran reciting contest honoured |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=31 December 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}} It funds the building of mosques both within{{cite news|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/551424/Ministry-announces-new-mosque-projects|title=Ministry announces new mosque projects|date=29 May 2017|work=Gulf Times |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/24/01/2018/Ministry-of-Awqaf-opens-new-mosque-in-Al-Ghanim-Al-Ateeq|title=Ministry of Awqaf opens new mosque in Al Ghanim Al Ateeq |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=24 January 2018 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/22/04/2017/Ministry-of-Awqaf-opens-two-new-mosques|title=Ministry of Awqaf opens two new mosques |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=22 April 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/15/01/2018/Ministry-of-Awqaf-opens-new-mosque-in-Umm-Al-Saneem|title=Ministry of Awqaf opens new mosque in Umm Al Saneem |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=15 January 2018 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/01/2017/New-mosque-opens-in-New-Al-Rayyan|title=New mosque opens in New Al Rayyan |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=16 January 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}} and outside of Kuwait.{{cite news |url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2017/Largest-mosque-in-Scandinavia-built-by-Qatar-opens|title=Largest mosque in Scandinavia built by Qatar opens |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=3 May 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}}{{cite web |date=3 March 2018 |title=Kuwait continues offering humanitarian aid to several countries |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2698149&language=en |access-date=9 March 2020}}{{efn|See also Kuwait connections to UK mosques{{cite web |last=Merley |first=Steven |title=GMBDW In The Media: Qatar Charity Funds New UK Mosque With Muslim Brotherhood Ties | website=The Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Watch | date=5 June 2017 | url=https://www.globalmbwatch.com/2017/06/05/gmbdw-in-the-media-qatar-charity-funds-new-uk-mosque-with-muslim-brotherhood-ties/}} and similar work by the Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs.{{cite web |last=Towler |first=Laura |url=https://www.defendevropa.org/2017/islam/islamisation-of-europe/mosque-sweden-malmo-secret/|title=Sweden Just Opened The Largest Mosque in Scandinavia; But They Don't Want You To Know About It |date=17 May 2017 |website=Defend Europa |access-date=21 March 2018}}}} The ministry includes the Zakat Fund, which collects Zakat al-Fitr.{{cite news |url=https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/19/06/2017/Zakat-Fund-urges-Muslims-to-pay-Zakat-Al-Fitr|title=Zakat Fund urges Muslims to pay Zakat Al Fitr |work=The Peninsula: Qatar's Daily Newspaper |date=19 January 2017 |access-date=21 March 2018}}

The Islam Presentation Committee is a division of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs which encourages proselytizing Islam to non-Muslim prisoners and foreign workers.{{r|state.gov1}}"The Islam Presentation Committee (IPC), under the authority of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, actively encouraged proselytizing Islam to non-Muslims. The IPC maintained an office at the Central Prison to provide religious education and information to inmates and reportedly extended its proselytizing efforts to embassies that shelter foreign workers facing problems. An NGO that receives governmental financial support to obtain the early release of nonviolent offenders also proselytized in the prisons."

https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127351.htm#:~:text=The%20Islam%20Presentation,in%20the%20prisons.

The Kuwait Ministry of Islamic Affairs funds a variety of other activities, including promoting Islamic science and technology, humanitarian aid after natural disasters around the world,{{cite news |date=20 September 2017 |title=Kuwait opens housing project in Mongolia for floods' victims |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2639031&language=en}} and the Kuwait Islamic Arts Center.{{cite news |date=15 February 2018 |title=Kuwait Islamic arts center keen on spreading art of calligraphy |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2690901&language=en}}

In 2005 and 2006, the ministry funded studies of Western perceptions of Islam and Islamic perceptions of Western culture,

{{cite web |last=Yalonis |first=Chris |date=13 June 2006 |title=Cross Cultural Perceptions between Arab Muslims and the West |publisher=Communique Partners |url=https://www.slideshare.net/chrisyalonis/arabwestern-perceptionskuwait-grand-mosqueyalonis}}{{cite web |last=Yalonis |first=Chris |date=2005 |title=Western Perception of Islam and Muslims |publisher=Communique Partners / Kuwait Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs |url=https://www.scribd.com/document/21596094/Western-Perception-of-Islam-and-Muslims}} and sought to improve the relationship between these cultures.

In 2008 and 2009, the ministry sponsored the development of a Muslim Seven Year Action Plan on Climate Change.{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Laura Jane |date=20 September 2009 |title=The Muslim 7-Year Action Plan (M7YAP) To Deal with Global Climate Change |location=London |publisher=Earth-Mates Dialogue Center |url=http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/Muslim-7YP.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923114806/http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/Muslim-7YP.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2010}}{{cite web |last=Akef |first=Mahmoud |date=10 July 2009 |title=Istanbul Declaration of The Muslim 7-Year-Action Plan on Climate Change 2010-2017 |location=London |publisher=Earth-Mates Dialogue Center |url=http://www.arcworld.org/downloads/m7yap%20dec%20july%2009.pdf}}{{cite web |last=Azhary |first=Abdul Shaheed |url=https://abusheima.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/world-muslim-scholars-contribution-to-environment/|title=World Muslim Scholars' contribution to environment |date=14 July 2009|website=Imam Shafi Research Forum |access-date=21 March 2018}}

Since 2015, the ministry has sought to promote moderate Islam against Islamic extremism.{{cite news |date=15 February 2015 |title=Awqaf Min. stresses moderation as ministry's slogan |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2424926&language=en}}{{cite web |date=27 February 2018 |title=Kuwait keen on promotion of moderation, peaceful coexistence |work=Kuwait News Agency |url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2697609&language=en}}{{efn|See also {{cite news | title=Religious co-habitation brings together all communities in Kuwait | work=Kuwait Times | date=8 May 2016 | url=https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/religious-co-habitation-brings-together-communities-kuwait/ | access-date=21 March 2018}} ([https://news.kuwaittimes.net/pdf/2016/may/09/p03.pdf PDF of print edition])}}{{efn|Though see the United States' 2009 assessment of this initiative.}} The ministry includes a Supreme Commission for the Promotion of Moderation.{{cite news |last=Noyce |first=David | title=This week in Mormon Land: Former missionary travels 8,000 miles to extend forgiveness and Nelson meets with gay club owner | work=The Salt Lake Tribune | date=13 June 2019 | url=https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2019/06/13/this-week-mormon-land/ | access-date=9 March 2020}}

In 2015, the ministry undertook a purge of members of the Muslim Brotherhood from its staff.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/02/10/the-future-of-the-muslim-brotherhood-in-the-gulf/|title=The future of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf|first=Kristin Smith|last=Diwan|date=10 February 2015|access-date=21 March 2018|newspaper=Washington Post}}{{efn|See Hadas}}

In 2016, the ministry made an administrative decision limiting the appointment of foreigners in Kuwait government positions.{{cite news |last=Saleh |first=A. |url=https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/restrictions-hiring-expats-awqaf-ministry/ |title=Restrictions on hiring expats in Awqaf ministry |date=4 December 2016 |work=Kuwait Times |access-date=21 March 2018}} {{As of|November 2019}}, there were 4,028 expats working in the ministry.{{cite news |last=Gonçalves |first=Pedro |title=Expats working in Kuwait's public sector down to 123,000 |work=International Investment | date=18 November 2019 | url=https://www.internationalinvestment.net/news/4007054/expats-kuwait-public-sector-123 | access-date=9 March 2020}}

In 2017, the ministry laid off 2,032 employees in order to reduce its expenses. The cuts were especially significant in the office of the Assistant Undersecretary for Quran and Islamic Studies, which lost the vast majority of its staff.{{cite news |last=Saleh |first=A. |url=http://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/awqaf-ministry-lay-off-2032-employees-massive-budget-cut/|title=Awqaf ministry to lay off 2,032 employees in massive budget cut |date=12 December 2017|work=Kuwait Times |access-date=21 March 2018}}

In 2018, the ministry changed its policies to allow women in senior positions.{{cite news | title=Women to occupy senior positions in Awqaf ministry in coming weeks | work=Arab Times | date=4 June 2018 | url=https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/women-to-occupy-senior-positions-in-awqaf-ministry-in-coming-wks/ | access-date=9 March 2020}}

In 2020, Former Kuwait Minister of Oil Ali Ahmed Al-Baghli accused the Ministry of Islamic Affairs of excessive spending in its fiscal year 2020/2021 budget, attributing the spending to nepotism.{{cite news |last=Al-Baghli |first=Ali Ahmed | date=27 February 2020 |title=Spending, extravagance, bankruptcy and deficits are knocking on the door | work=Arab Times | url=https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/spending-extravagance-bankruptcy-and-deficits-are-knocking-on-the-door/ | access-date=9 March 2020}}

• Yusuf Al-Hadji, 1970s{{cite news |date=7 June 2011 |title=Kuwait splits between conflicts of sheikhs, and sheikhs of conflicts | work=Middle East Online | url=https://middle-east-online.com/en/kuwait-splits-between-conflicts-sheikhs-and-sheikhs-conflicts | access-date=9 March 2020}}
• Yaacoub Abdulmohsen Al-Sanaa{{efn|Also written as Ya’qoub Al-Sane}}, 2015{{r|moderation2015}}{{cite news |author=Kuwait News Agency |date=26 October 2015 |title=Cabinet, parliament members meet in a cordial atmosphere | work=Kuwait Times | url=https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/cabinet-parliament-members-meet-in-a-cordial-atmosphere/ | access-date=9 March 2020}}
• Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, December 2016 – December 2017{{cite news | title=Kuwait Forms New Cabinet After Dissolution Over Row | work=Arab Times | date=17 December 2019 | url=https://www.arabtimesonline.com/news/kuwait-forms-new-cabinet-after-dissolution-over-row/ | access-date=9 March 2020}} Available with photographs from [https://menafn.com/1099438475/KUWAIT-FORMS-NEW-CABINET-AFTER-DISSOLUTION-OVER-ROW MENAFN].{{cite web |date=17 December 2019 |title=Profiles of Kuwait's new Cabinet ministers | work=Kuwait News Agency | url=https://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2842875&Language=en | access-date=9 March 2020}}{{cite web |author=Kuwait News Agency |date=11 December 2016 |title=Profiles of the new Cabinet's members | work=Kuwait Times | url=https://news.kuwaittimes.net/website/profiles-new-cabinets-members/ | access-date=9 March 2020}}
• Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, December 2017 – December 2018{{r|2019 Cabinet}}{{cite news |author=Staff writer | title=Key post for Emir's son in new Kuwait cabinet | work=Gulf News | date=11 December 2017 | url=https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/key-post-for-emirs-son-in-new-kuwait-cabinet-1.2138880 | access-date=9 March 2020}}
• Fahad al-Shaala, December 2018 – December 2019{{cite news |last=al-Khuwaldi |first=Merza |title=Emir of Kuwait Calls on New Ministers to Apply the Law | work=Asharq Al-Awsat | date=26 December 2018 | url=https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/1520381/emir-kuwait-calls-new-ministers-apply-law | access-date=9 March 2020}}{{cite web | author=WAM: Emirates News Agency | title=Kuwait names new ministers in cabinet reshuffle | work=Khaleej Times | date=25 December 2018 | url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/region/kuwait/kuwait-names-new-ministers-in-cabinet-reshuffle | access-date=9 March 2020}}
• Fahad Mohammad Al-Afasi, December 2019 –{{r|2019 Cabinet}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://islam.gov.kw/Pages/en/}}

{{Awqaf cabinet departments}}

{{Authority control}}

Awqaf and Islamic Affairs

Kuwait

Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs