Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Kelantan (JAHEAIK) ditubuhkan secara rasmi pada 1 Januari 1980 dengan tujuan untuk membantu Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Kelantan (MAIK) dalam usaha mempergiatkan aktiviti-aktiviti dakwah dan pembangunan hal ehwal Islam di negeri Kelantan.
Pada Awal penubuhannya iaitu pada 1/12/1950, bidang tugas JAHEAIK yang dikenali dengan nama Pejabat Penyelia Agama. Juga lebih mashyur dengan panggilan Pejabat Pencegah Maksiat lebih tertumpu kepada bidang pencegahan, penangkapan dan pendakwaan jenayah syariah semata-mata. Pejabat ini wujud di bawah Pejabat Mufti Kerajaan Kelantan.
Sekitar bulan Mac 1978 kerajaan telah mewujudkan Bahagian Agama Islam di Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Kelantan. Ia dikendalikan seorang pegawai yang berjawatan “Penolong Setiausaha (Hal Ehwal Agama)" serta beberapa kakitangan perkeranian. Bermula pada bulan jun 1978, struktur pentadbirannya diperbesarkan dengan diberi taraf jabatan penuh. Ia diketuai oleh seorang pegawai berjawatan Pengarah, sementara Penolong Kanannya bergelar Setiausaha, tetapi masih di bawah sayap Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Kelantan. Hanya pada tahun 1980 barulah diwujud secara berasingan dari pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan dengan peruntukan tahunan serta kuasa mengawal kewangan dan pentadbirannya sendiri.
Pada tahun 60an sehingga kini, JAHEAIK telah mengalami perkembangan pesat dari segi bidang tugas serta struktur perjawatan dan pentadbirannya sesuai dengan tuntutan perubahan masa dan keadaan.
At the beginning of its establishment on 1/12/1950, JAHEAIK's duties were known as the Office of Religious Supervisors. It is also more famous with the call of the Crime Prevention Office, which is more focused on the prevention, arrest and prosecution of sharia crimes. This office exists under the Kelantan Government Mufti Office.
Around March 1978 the government established the Islamic Religion Division in the Kelantan Government Secretary's Office. It is managed by an officer with the position of “Assistant Secretary (Religious Affairs)" as well as some clerical staff. Starting in June 1978, the administrative structure was enlarged by being given the status of a full department. It is headed by an officer with the title of Director, while his Senior Assistant is the Secretary, but still under the wing of the Kelantan Government Secretary's Office. It was only in 1980 that it was established separately from the office of the Government Secretary with annual allocations and the power to control its own finances and administration.
In the 60's until now, JAHEAIK has experienced rapid development in terms of the field of duties as well as its staffing and administrative structure in accordance with the demands of changing times and circumstances.