List of issues > Series «Political Science and Religion Studies». 2024. Vol 47
Features of Family and Marriage Relations in Late Medieval
Transoxiana (Maverannahr) Sufism
Author(s)
L. E. IsmoilovAbstract
The article highlights the issue of the institution of the family and family and marriage
relations in the late medieval Transoxiana (Maverannahr) narrative sources in the Lives of Muslim
saints (manakibs) of the 16th century. In the late medieval period, despite the relative predominance
of asceticism, in most cases, family ties began to play an important role in the life of the Sufis. However, strict adherence to the family spiritual heritage was not always respected by successors. Due to
the peculiarities of the perception of life by Sufis, the death of one of the children of a Sufi could be
perceived as an insignificant event, especially if the deceased during his lifetime did not show much
zeal for Sufi ideals. During this period, polygamy spread among the Sufis, so there could be many
heirs claiming some part of the spiritual or material heritage of the sheikh. Many women associated
physically or spiritually with Sufi circles dedicate their lives to sincere service to the ideals of Sufism. On the other hand, women, especially young ones, are the most vulnerable group of society,
including among the Sufis. They could easily become the subject of an offering (niyyaz) to some
famous Sufi sheikh, regardless of the age of the latter. Often such "live gifts" sadly ended their lives.
Judging by the manakibs that have come down to us, some famous Sufis made obscene remarks
about women. These statements in the context of the moral atmosphere of that time were perceived
as ordinary and did not cause any condemnation.
About the Authors
Ismoilov Lutfullo Eshonovich,
Candidate of Sciences (History), Associate
Professor, Department of Oriental, African and
Islamic Studies, Institute of International
Relations,
Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University,
18, Kremlyovskaya st., Kazan, 420008,
Russian Federation,
e-mail: ismoilov-62@mail.ru
For citation
Ismoilov L. E. Features of Family and Marriage Relations in Late Medieval Transoxiana (Maverannahr) Sufism. The
Bulletin of Irkutsk State University. Series Political Science and Religion Studies, 2024, vol. 47, pp. 171-178.
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2024.47.171 (in Russian)
Keywords
Sufism, family, Late Medieval, Transoxiana, Maverannahr, manakib, woman.
UDC
297″15″
DOI
https://doi.org/10.26516/2073-3380.2024.47.171
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