Abstract

This article examines the historical trajectory of religious education among Kazakh women, analyzes its impact on the empowerment of the individual and the development of society. Based on historical data, the authors intend to give a comprehensive idea of how religious education shaped the intellectual and cultural identity of Kazakh women. The spiritual and intellectual development of Kazakh women was an important aspect of the historical evolution characteristic of the Kazakh steppe. Despite the nomadic lifestyle and socio-political changes, religious education remained an integral part of Kazakh society, shaping the intellectual and spiritual life of women. Religious education served not only as a means of personal and spiritual development, but also as a mechanism for preserving traditions and strengthening moral values for generations. With the spread of Islam in the Kazakh steppes and the expansion of Islamic institutions, madrasahs became the main educational centers that allowed women to have a deep understanding of faith and scientific discourse, although in various later historical periods, including during the rule of the Russian Empire and Soviet rule, the opportunity to receive religious education was subject to various ideological and political restrictions. Despite the restrictions, Kazakh women were tolerant in their pursuit of spiritual knowledge, in their search for alternative means of education, and in maintaining religious discourse in their communities. In this article, the authors consider the historical path of religious education of Kazakh women and determine its evolution from the period of madrasas to modern institutions. This study, analyzed in detail with historical data, aims to show the special importance of religious education in the formation of the intellectual and cultural identity of Kazakh women.

Keywords: kazakh steppe, woman, madrasah, religious education, Islam.