The Role of Religious Scholars in the Shaybanid State Administration

This article examines the role of religious scholars in the administrative system of the Shaybanid state in Central Asia during the sixteenth century. The research analyzes the political, judicial, and ideological influence of ulama within state governance. Historical-comparative and historiographical methods were applied using primary and secondary historical sources. The findings demonstrate that religious scholars played a decisive role in legitimizing political authority, strengthening centralized administration, and preserving social stability in Mawarannahr. The study also reveals that madrasas, waqf institutions, and Naqshbandi religious leaders became important components of the Shaybanid political structure. The article concludes that cooperation between rulers and religious elites significantly contributed to the political consolidation and cultural development of the Shaybanid state in Bukhara and other regions of Central Asia.