THE HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF WOMEN’S LEGAL STATUS IN KHOREZM: IN THE CONTEXT OF SHARIA LAW AND CUSTOMARY NORMS

Abstract

This article examines the historical development of women’s legal status in the Khorezm region, focusing on the interplay between Islamic (Sharia) law and pre-Islamic or customary norms (urf-adat). Drawing upon legal texts, court records, and historical chronicles from the medieval to early modern periods, the study analyzes how women’s rights to property, marriage, divorce, and inheritance evolved over time. It reveals a dynamic legal environment in which religious doctrine and local customs often overlapped or clashed, ultimately shaping the lived realities of Khorezmian women.