A Study of Judicial Rulings Issued in the Darabgerd Court in the Sasanian Period Relying on Legal Rulings in the Field of Women

Abstract The Madian ī hazār dādestān (Mādayān ī hazār dādestān), the sole surviving legal text from the Sasanian period, provides significant insights into the legal system and procedural rules of that era. This study examined the legal rulings issued in the Darabgerd Court concerning two key topics: adoption of girls and women's rights. Utilizing a descriptive and analytical approach, the research investigated how these rulings were shaped and their implications for women's legal status. The hypothesis posited that legal decisions regarding women in the Darabgerd Court served as precedents for judges throughout the empire. Findings revealed that supportive rulings facilitated women's inheritance rights and guardianship of adopted children, highlighting the evolving judicial landscape under the Sasanians.