In his History of the Ottoman Sultans, Izzetlu Yusuf Bey Asaf presents an accurate and fascinating portrait of the conditions of the Bedouin Arabs in Egypt during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, when they enjoyed a unique status. The author reviews the privileges granted to them by Muhammad Ali Pasha, including exemptions and privileges not enjoyed by other sects, while also revealing the material and social gains achieved by their settlement in Egyptian lands. However, the book does not limit itself to mentioning the positive aspects; it also exposes the reader to the negatives, both related to government errors in their management and the resulting damage to Egyptian society. This is a rare reference that sheds light on a sensitive phase in the history of the Bedouin Arabs before they were fully integrated into the Egyptian fabric, making it a rich source for understanding the social and political history of modern Egypt.

يوسف بك آصاف (1823–1900م) مؤرخ وكاتب لبناني. اهتم بكتابة التاريخ المحلي والأنساب. نشر كتبًا في التراث والأدب. وكان من الشخصيات الثقافية البارزة في جبل لبنان.