Fayoum.

The Fayoum is situated in a vast desert, far from the Nile coast. It lies to the west of Beni Suef, south of Giza, and north of Minya, meaning it is nestled between these three governorates. The lands of this vast governorate are 40 meters below the surface of the water, and it is said that the Nile rises by 20 meters during the flood season and by 10 meters in ordinary seasons. This is a lower elevation than all the lands of Egypt. Access to it is through the western mountain road.

A canal called Bahr Yussef, named after its builder Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, flows through the center of Fayoum. Its products include oil, wool, and linen. It also has an olive press and a wine press. Its gardens and vineyards are famous for the best types of grapes and rose water.

It was previously unhealthy, unclean, and damp due to its low elevation and stagnant water before Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, intervened. He implemented reforms and measures, some of whose traces remain to this day. He improved its air and its lands and crops by draining the stagnant waters and creating a canal through which water flows underground from one end of the city to the other to irrigate the lands. He also installed watermills powered by the water, so that even without the flood and with a shortage of Nile water, there was enough to supply other governorates.

This governorate is divided into two parts. The first is Markaz (Al-Faraq), which is a village located at the foot of the western mountain. Its valley is called "Al-Rayan," named after Rayan, son of Al-Walid, known as Pharaoh of Joseph. Many ancient ruins are found there. Among its districts is Lahun, which was one of the most famous ancient cities. It has a bridge with a single arch at the point where Bahr Yussef branches off. Nearby are the ruins of "Labirint."

To the east of Bahr Yussef is "Bahr Muriks," meaning "mouth of the sea temple." It was called "Laburamot" in ancient Greek. It is said that in this location there was a palace divided into six sections on the right and six on the left, with parallel and opposite entrances. It was accessed by twelve streets and contained three stone halls, each 1500 cubits in the first level and 1500 cubits in the second level, in addition to salons. Inside, there were decorated pyramids with symbolic figures. This was a place designated for the meeting of ministers and government officials to discuss state affairs. Among the things that distinguished the expedition of Seradin was an underground excavation that led to pyramids inside which were tombs containing the bodies of those who built them.