The libretto had already been set by Pierre-Alexandre Monsigny in an opera that had premiered on 4 February of the same year at the Paris Foire St-Germain.
The Cadi has been flirting with other women and neglecting his wife, Fatima.
The mischievous Zelmire, who is in love with Nuradin, tricks the Cadi in order to teach him a lesson.
She pretends to be Omar's daughter, Ali, who is considered less than desirable.
The duped Cadi plans to divorce Fatima in order to marry the pretending Zelmire, but the truth is eventually revealed.