The Shining City - The al-Andalus series

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.