To fully understand agricultural settlements in Egypt, one
must understand the role played by Sharia Islamic law. Accord-
ing to this tradition, waqf (religious endowments) are revenues
obtained through lands. Typically, a waqf is a piece of arable
land, farm, or even an oasis. The money obtained through a
waqf supports mosques and other religious activities. This form
of local land management based on Islamic laws is probably
the oldest such system in the world. Waqf is also an impor-
tant means of issuing charity to the poor. For example, if the