The sheikh Ahmed Nurudin lives in his world of absolute certainties and eternal truths, as codified and sanctioned by the Koran, detached from the world of ordinary men and women, over whom he claims leadership. His attitude is that of the spectator, or witness – never that of participant. But at a decisive moment for him, life forces him to do what he is escaping from: to act and take sides. His younger brother is arrested without reason and killed in a totally arbitrary act.