In the 1920s, Hamid and Zainab grew up in West Sumatra, coming from different social classes. Hamid is very poor, while Zainab is very wealthy. Hamid received a scholarship from Zainab's father, and his mother worked for Zainab's family. Hamid and Zainab fell in love, dreaming of finding a way for society to accept their union and going on a pilgrimage to Mecca.