Religion in Brunei

The Sultan is the head of the official religion. The Islamic Religious Council (Majlis Ugama Islam) advises on Islamic affairs. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama (KHEU)) coordinates central religious responsibilities through institutions such as the Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, the Department of Islamic Studies, the Department of Mosque Affairs, the Department of Syariah Affairs, the Department of Islamic Legal Affairs, the Hajj Affairs Department, and the Department of Zakat, Waqaf and Baitulmal (JUZWAB). Responsible offices also operate at district level in Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong, and Temburong. Muslim prayers take place in mosques, prayer halls (Surau and Balai Ibadat). Religious daily life includes Sembahyang Fardhu, Sembahyang Jumaat, Ramadan, Tarawih, Witir, Tadarus Al-Quran, Tahlil, and Doa. Every Friday, government offices and business premises close nationwide from 12:00 to 14:00 for Friday prayers. The beginning of Ramadan and the determination of the month are based on the sighting of the moon by the Ministry and the council. In 2026, Ramadan began on 19 February, Nuzul Al-Quran fell on 7 March, and Hari Raya Aidil Fitri fell on 21 March; substitute and additional holidays fell on 23 and 24 March. Other Islamic holidays in 2026 were Isra' Mi'raj on 17 January, Hari Raya Aidil Adha on 27 May, Ilal Hijrah on 17 June, and Maulud Nabi Muhammad on 25 August. Dates dependent on the moon may be adjusted through official announcement. During the daytime in Ramadan, legal restrictions apply to eating, drinking, and tobacco use in public. The exact sanction follows the applicable Syariah Penal Code, Cap. 275, in its revised 2024 version. Hajj applications are submitted through the Hajj Affairs Department in Bandar Seri Begawan or through district offices in Belait, Tutong, and Temburong. The application is submitted by the person concerned or their family, not by a package agency. The Ministry's page listed a fee of 2 Brunei dollars for the form; this amount comes from a page version dated 2023 and should be checked again before applying. Selection depends, among other things, on the Saudi quota and health and other selection criteria, and follows an annual cycle. Fitrah alms (Zakat Fitrah) apply to Muslims with sufficient surplus. The assessment is based on 2.268 kilograms of rice or the current rice price. Payment is possible online, begins in Ramadan, and should preferably be made before the Eid prayer; the deadline is 1 Shawwal. The exact amount may change with the rice price. JUZWAB and TAIB are central points of contact. The Halal Food Control Division of the Department of Syariah Affairs is responsible for halal certification, halal labels, import permits, and inspections. The Halal Certificate and Halal Label Order 2005 provides the legal basis. An official FAQ listed 50 Brunei dollars for an import permit; this fee should also be confirmed as current. Ramadan advertising with a halal reference requires a valid Halal Certificate (Sijil Halal). Conversion to Islam is supported by the Unit Pengislaman dan Bimbingan Muallaf of the Islamic Outreach Centre (Pusat Da'wah Islamiah) in Kampong Pulaie or by Da'wah units in Belait, Tutong, and Temburong. From the age of 14, the researched procedure provides for seven-month self-registration; younger applicants contact the office through a parent or guardian. An identity card or passport, twelve passport photos, and, if available, two Muslim male witnesses are usually required. An Islamic name is recommended but not mandatory. The council issues the conversion certificate; no fee has been published. The Compulsory Religious Education Act, Cap. 215, has applied since 1 January 2013. Muslim children of compulsory school age, typically from seven to 15 years old, attend religious education subject to the statutory requirements concerning residence and parental status. Registration takes place at a MORA-Sekolah Ugama; a ministerial exemption may be possible. State and private schools also teach Islamic Religious Knowledge and Melayu Islam Beraja. Other Islamic education pathways include the Arabic Secondary School, Tahfiz, and the SPUB programme. For cases involving at least one Muslim party and the required local connection, the Islamic Family Law, Cap. 217, and the Syariah Courts may have jurisdiction. This may concern Muslim marriage, divorce, maintenance, and guardianship. Relevant functions include those of the Chief Kadi, Syar'ie judges, the Registrar for Muslim marriages, divorces, annulments, and Ruju', and the Jurunikah. The Religious Council and Kadis Courts Act, Cap. 77, and the Syariah Courts Act, Cap. 184, supplement the institutional framework. The applicable duties or sanctions depend on the status of the person concerned and the specific circumstances. Muslim burials take place in Islamic cemeteries or through mosques with funeral facilities (Jenazah facilities); coordination is handled by the Ministry together with the district offices. Cemetery location and capacity may vary. For Christian, Buddhist, and other religious or non-religious groups, statistical data show a social presence, but the reviewed official sources do not contain a complete current list of all communities and meeting places. An independent national interfaith dialogue body was not identified in these sources; this does not imply anything about informal dialogue practices. The centre provides Da'wah, courses, counselling, and support for converts, while MABIMS serves regional Islamic coordination. No published entrance fee is known for prayers and mosque visits. Education and court fees cannot be stated as a general amount. Legal rules, public holidays, moon-sighting dates, quotas, opening hours, fees, and sanctions should be checked again with the Ministry, the competent courts, or the relevant institution before taking a specific action. The information is based on the research status as of 6 September 2026; the religious statistics are reliable through 2021.