A scholarly doctor, the beloved tutor of the Caliph's son in Baghdad, is in love with a Persian noblewoman named Shireen. But because the doctor has no money to offer Shireen's family, the Caliph promises Shireen to a rich, elderly, ill man. Heartbroken, the doctor has an outburst in court that prompts the Caliph to banish him to the remote village of Beit Zujaaj. Upon his arrival, the doctor is immediately bombarded with strange rumors about an old hermit named Abdel Jameela who lives outside of town. Abdel sends for the doctor to treat his ill wife. This surprises the whole town, since Abdel has not invited anyone to his home in 30 years, and his wife is rumored to be a witch. The doctor journeys to Abdel's home alone, like Abdel requested. Abdel's wife reveals herself to be a she-ghoul with a beautiful voice and smell, but a terrifying body made of goat, wolf, fish, jackal, and scorpion parts. She explains that her dying father was a prince in her homeland. She will inherit his lands, but her people hate human men. She wants the doctor to give Abdel goat legs so that he will be accepted there. The wife claims that her sorcery, combined with the doctor's surgical skills, will make the transplant successful. At first, the doctor is outraged and refuses. But he reluctantly agrees when the wife convinces him that Shireen would have agreed to help true lovers be together. The doctor performs the necessary surgery while the wife guides his mind and fingers. But things go wrong and Abdel almost dies. The doctor notices two growths in Abdel's thighs and cuts them open to reveal tiny legs ending in hooves, which quickly grow and sprout fur. The doctor faints. When he wakes up, Abdel and his wife thank him with an abundance of gold, jewels, and other treasures, and the wife tells him that Shireen's fiancé has died in battle. Abdel and his wife set out for the land of the ghouls. The doctor comes up with a cover story and prepares to reunite with Shireen.