«إِنَّ الشَّيْخَ مِنْ أَهْلِ سَرُوجَ»
The elder is one of the people of Sarūj.
When the woman names Sarūj, al-Ḥārith receives a significant clue. Earlier encounters make the town suggest Abū Zayd al-Sarūjī, but a clue is not yet identification. The expression min ahl means belonging to the people of a place or group.