It comprises a series of episodes in a dozen generations of a family from the Egyptian urban rabble (the "harafish").

Reference to location is made several times in The Harafish (English translation).

When Ashur and Fulla flee the plague-infested alley, they reside in the caves of the foothills.

Ashur leaves the cave "to take water from the public drinking fountain in Darasa" (p. 39).

Darasa is located east of present-day Cairo, between the foothills and the Nile river.