A Study of the Relationship between Social and Economic Security and the Residence or Non-Residence of Sunni Hadith Scholars in Rayy and Isfahan in the Third Century AH

Rayy and Isfahan, by virtue of various factors such as their geographical position, have always attracted the attention of actors in various domains, including the religious sphere. In this context, there exists a reciprocal relationship between the movement of Hadith scholars of the Sunni school and the question of the social-economic security of these two regions. The present study seeks to answer, through a descriptive-analytical method and a comparative approach, and relying on historical-geographical sources, the following question: What was the relationship between the attraction and repulsion of Hadith scholars and the social-economic security of Rayy and Isfahan? The findings of the research indicate that the various manifestations of Isfahan's economic life, such as commerce or agriculture, enjoyed greater prosperity. The result of this was the attraction of a larger number of Hadith scholars to Isfahan (as compared to Rayy). Regarding the factors repelling Hadith scholars, despite the high cost of goods in Isfahan, due to reasons such as severe political-military upheavals and the occurrence of natural disasters in Rayy, the security of that region was jeopardized, and a large number of Rayy's Hadith scholars migrated to other regions.
In the early centuries, the importance and impact of political, religious, and economic developments prevailed over other aspects of human community life, particularly urban life and various social-religious strata. Under such conditions, the approach of local economic-religious history is highly instrumental in achieving a better and more precise understanding of the historical atmosphere of various regions of Iran.
In accordance with this principle, in the early centuries, certain regions attracted the attention of centers of power due to their geo-strategic position as well as their natural endowments. In this context, Rayy and Isfahan, possessing such characteristics, were constantly embroiled in the vicissitudes of historical events. These developments exerted an influence on the social-economic security of these two regions and bore a reciprocal relationship with certain aspects of the urban life of these regions, such as the life of a particular group among the social-religious strata.
The factors attracting Hadith scholars to Rayy and Isfahan bore a close relationship with the social-economic security of these two cities. These factors may be examined under sub-categories such as security measures in Isfahan, such as preventing the unauthorized entry of soldiers into people's homes, or the suppression of rebels, and tax reductions in Rayy by order of the Abbasid caliphs. Of course, due to factors such as the establishment of powerful rulers in Isfahan, such as the Banu Dulaf dynasty or Badr al-Hammami, as well as more severe political-military upheavals in the land of Rayy, the various manifestations of the economic life of this city, such as commerce or agriculture, enjoyed greater prosperity. The result of this was the attraction of a larger number of Hadith scholars to Isfahan as compared to Rayy. Regarding the factors repelling Hadith scholars, despite the high cost of goods in Isfahan—which was the offspring of factors such as severe political-military upheavals as well as the occurrence of destructive natural disasters in the land of Rayy—a larger number of Rayy's Hadith scholars, as compared to Isfahan, migrated to other regions.
Concerning the role of the authors in the present article, it should be stated that the portion relating to the research and study of primary sources was carried out by Ashkan Gholami, under the supervision of Dr. Abd al-Rafi' Rahimi.