The Abbassid Caliph of Baghdad, Al-Hadi, summons his brother, the Crown Prince, Haroon al-Rasheed back to Baghdad to inform him of an important decision that will affect the Caliphate and its succession.

The Caliph, Al-Hadi, consolidates his power by stripping Haroon al-Rasheed of his position as "Crown Prince" and passes the title on to his very young son, Jaafar, much to the displeasure of the Caliph's mother who reminds al-Hadi of his father's strict order that Haroon was to be Crown Prince. Haroon, for the sake of the state, accepts al-Hadi's decision.

The Caliph Moussa al-Hadi’s mother is clearly opposed to his decision to appoint the very young son of The Caliph as crown prince. Al-Hadi contemplates murdering his own mother as he sees her as an obstacle.

Harun endorses his young nephew, Al-Hadi’s son, as the Crown Prince much to the displeasure of Al Khairuzan, their mother. She relents and decides to go to Mecca but wants to cook a meal for her sons before she leaves. The Caliph al-Hadi suspects something untoward from his mother in her invitation.

Following the unexpected and suspicious death of his brother, The Caliph al-Hadi, Harun is torn between his promise to his brother to endorse Ja’afar (al-Hadi’s son) as Crown Prince and become Caliph himself as everyone expects.

As Harun ascends to the throne of the Caliphate, his mother, al-Khairuzan, prepares for the Pilgrimage to Mecca. Harun is urged to appoint a crown prince by his advisers.