Abstract
This article considers the recent and contemporary transformation of the role of the female religious practitioners in Tajikistan who act as spiritual leaders for the women of the traditionally sedentary population of Central Asia. These women are known as bibi otun/bibi khalifa and function within the sphere of daily life and traditions and are regarded as possessing spiritual knowledge that links them to God. The social and religious environment in which the otuns function has been influenced by the revival of Islam, particularly in that the new transnational landscape has strengthened links with the rest of the Islamic world and introduced a trend toward the “purification” of Islam of local practices and traditions. More contemporaneously, the Tajik authorities are also having an impact as they attempt to exercise control over female religious leaders.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
