In the year 947 AD Qasim, a potter, lives in the new city of Madinat al-Zahra he is a good husband and father. He works hard, says his prayers and keeps out of trouble. But Qasim has a secret his past is not what it seems. When a stranger arrives asking questions about him, he realises that all he has worked for could be destroyed. He has to keep a low profile. But his youngest son, Omar, has other ideas - he has fallen in love with the Caliph`s new concubine. She is desperate to escape the confines of the harem and convinces Omar to help her. The consequences of their actions are far-reaching and Qasim believes that his past is about to be exposed.