J. Life Sci. Biomed. 4(1): 26-34, 2014 JLSB © 2014, Scienceline Publication Journal of Life Science and Biomedicine ISSN 2251-9939 The Analysis of the City and Village Relations and Models in Islamic Countries Zahra Hajilou, Zainab Karkehabadi* and Fahimeh Khajehnabi Department of Geography, Islamic Azad University, Semnan Branch, Semnan, Iran *Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT: The spread of Islam across the cities of Iran led to profound changes in the social, economic, and political system of the countries and villages of Iran. This also led to the blossoming of commercial ties inside and outside the country. Urban industries expanded in cities and substantial changes occurred in villages as a result. Being focused on the role and function of cities and villages of every region, these urban-rural currents made changes and influences with concentration on all spatial dimensions of the settlements. These changes ORIGINAL ARTICLE Accepted and ties may bring about developmental or non-developmental consequences for each urban and rural space Received (villages). This research tries to study and analyse the reciprocal relations of the surrounding cities and villages of Khorasan Razavi- Central Mashhad district with its surrounding villages by descriptive-analytic method. The way of gathering information for this paper is documentary (library) and field method including 04 questionnaire, observation, interview the villagers and the likes. Results indicate that Mashhad is one of the 29 Dec major centres into which migrants move. This area is distinguished in the region and has a relative priority Sep because of accumulation of wealth, manpower, facilities, and the holy Shrine of Emam Reza (peace is upon . 2013 . 2013 . him) in this area. The area has a reciprocal communication with its surrounding rural areas. Mashhad has a more dominant position compared to its rural areas. The dominant pattern in this area is the central place pattern and the sphere of influence pattern. Of course, it performs these two functions in recreational-leisure and leisure-resort aspects. As a result, creation and expansion of these functions in rural areas within the past decades have been a spontaneous move with no planned measure on the whole. For this reason it left unfavourable effects and consequences in various fields. Therefore, it is necessary to control and direct these changes toward the integration of city and village based on Islamic documentations in this area. Key Words: Islam, Urban-Rural Patterns, City, Village, Mashhad. INTRODUCTION The relations among settlements and particularly between the city and the village manifest as population currents, goods, wealth, beliefs, information, and innovation. These relations are the spatial and geographical phenomena. The general rules governing these relations are identified, explained, and explored within the framework of reciprocal human relations and the geographical environment. These relations are of particular theoretical and applied importance. Regarding the effect of these relations on the process of changes and developments of rural and urban centers, studying the kinds and reasons of relations in addition to understanding their social, economic, cultural, spatial, and anatomical consequences and effects on the city and village, and attempts to reduce the negative consequences of these relations, will pave the way for sustainable development of rural and urban areas. Today, urban dwelling in the third world countries has a higher pace than industrial countries particularly in Islamic countries. It is goes without doubt that such remarkable urban development would not occur without profound changes in demographic characteristics (population growth, immigrations, and demographic currents), economic conditions (incomes, overheads, export and import), social characteristics (cultural, political, tribal, religious, racial, and lingual), and the anatomical and morphologic characteristics of the cities. The stability of urban and rural population in Islamic states throughout the world has been recognized as the most crucial challenge of the twenty first century [1]. Demographic outflows from villages into cities are considered as the important aspect of village-city relations and the most objective and tangible dimension thereof. The expansion of villages and cities and establishment of useful reciprocal relations can help stability and fixation of the population of both city and village. Statement of the problem Islam is a comprehensive value system which determines all patterns of behavior and social organization. The anatomical morphology of settlements such as cities and villages is the outcome of Islamic faith. Hence, a proper understanding of Islam leads to understanding the structure of Islamic cities [2]. To cite this paper: Hajilou, Z. Karkehabadi Z. and Khajehnabi F. 2014 The Analysis of the City and Village Relations and Models in Islamic Countries. J. Life Sci. Biomed. 4(1):26-34. Journal homepage:http://jlsb.science-line.com/ 26 With the arrival of Islam, the social structure took an Islamic appearance and underwent a natural change, evolution, and expansion, with a new form through the change in the anatomical structure [3]. The penetration of Islam in the cities of Iran caused deep changes in the social, economic, and political system of the countries and villages of Iran. This led to the expansion of commercial ties inside and outside the country. Islam also helped the expansion of urban industries throughout the cities and substantial changes in villages. Focusing on the role and function of the cities and villages within each area, these urban-rural currents provided the grounds of evolution and influence based on all spatial aspects of settlements. Such changes caused a kind of duality between the city and village. The increase in population, the rapid pace of urbanization, and descending agricultural returns for the small peasants particularly in developing Islamic states including Iran indicate that urban-rural ties and interactions play an increasingly important role in the local economy and the livelihood means of a great number of people [4]. Mashhad is a city of 200 square kilometers and is inhibited by a population of 2991644 persons. As the biggest city of Khorasan Razavi province, it is known as one of the most prominent metropolitans of the country. The city has been especially known as an important tourism and pilgrimage city since old times. In addition to its tourism and pilgrim attraction, the city is now important from cultural, scientific, political and economic terms so that it welcomes over 12 million pilgrims and travelers each year. Moreover, it enjoys unique commercial and economic facilities as it is in the route of Asian highway. Today it is home to one of the most important customhouses of Iran [5]. A look at the appearance of the city could help us understand the relations between Mashhad and its surrounding villages on the basis of Islamic culture. In fact, one can notice bipolarity and an egregious gap between the city and the village in Mashhad and its neighboring villages. Regarding the significance of the city, the theoretical patterns dominating the relations of Mashhad and its surrounding villages are analyzed in this paper. Also, the pattern dominating Mashhad and its surrounding villages is studied. Theoretical Fundamentals of Research 1. City from the Point of View of Islam: From old times, city has been a geographical space which indicates the ideologies of the dominant systems. On this basis, the Islamic city reflects the lofty contemplations of Islam in all of its aspects [6]. Based on the cities’ dominant architecture, urban planners held that it is a city built upon an Islamic culture. In the model of the Islamic city, the dominant element is Islam. All indicators and elements of social life and the anatomy of the city are organized based on this factor [7]. Generally speaking, the Islamic culture is a specific type of religious culture with people manifestation. It left two major influences on our cities: 1- Changing the city dwelling behavior of people. 2- Changing the appearance of cities. With the arrival of Islam in Iran, fire temples were ruined and replaced with mosques (Masjed Jameh). Kohandej was ruined and its walls fell to the ground with the walls of Sharestan; suburbs flourished and were inhabited by people. Other pillars of the city changed and the market started expanding with a new order and fresh principles and relations. A city formed around every local market with its own tribal, racial, and religious origins, and each with its own particular mosque, small market, school, bath, and other buildings [8]. An Islamic city includes spatial representation of social building and form, which accompanies communicative forms and ornamental elements based on Islamic ideals. Beyond the social concept, another principle that dominates the Muslims community is not being constrained to time and not having a specific geography which is defined by the concept of Islamic nation [9]. Table 1. The Relations and Characteristics of City and Village in Islamic Countries [10] Aspects City Village Population: +10000 persons Population: -10000 persons Low and average family size Average and high family size Cultural- Weak balance of settlers and indirect Strong relations between settlers and face to face social communication communications High level of literacy and information Extensive and high balance