THE ROLE OF THE SURKHAN OASIS IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE BUKHARA EMIRATE

Abstract

This article examines the role of the Surkhan Oasis in the spiritual life of the Bukhara Emirate from the late eighteenth century to the first quarter of the twentieth century. The study explores the religious and educational environment of the oasis, the activities of traditional schools and madrasas, the social standing of Islamic scholars (ulama) and teachers (mudarris), the spiritual functions of mosques and pilgrimage sites, as well as the formation and development of oral folk traditions and traditional values. Particular attention is paid to the educational institutions and intellectual environment of the Boysun, Denov, and Sherobod beklik (administrative districts), highlighting their connections with the broader spiritual and intellectual sphere of the Bukhara Emirate.