This paper analyses the issue of the place of the female informal religious practitioners termed bibi otun/bibi khalifa1 within the social landscape of Tajikistan. These women play the role of spiritual leaders primarily among the female part of the traditionally sedentary population of Central Asia.2 Otuns deal with a variety of issues related to spiritual life, teaching children and women religion, and performing rituals and prayers for the female part of the community. They are trained in Arabic as well as Islamic texts. Sometimes otuns, apart from religious activities, assist women in various social matters. In spite of the widespread opinion about the subordinate role of women in Central Asia, otuns have a high social status as religious authorities, and their informal influences often go beyond just the women’s domain. Dynamic and continual changes within the social and political life in Tajikistan have also left their mark on the place and role of these religious practitioners.