As for political Muslims, fond of talking about Medina as the first Islamic State, and the Constitution of Medina as the ideal basis for contemporary politics? Misguided, to his mind. The Prophet hadn’t wanted to leave Mecca in the first place: he was forced to leave, since he was unable to practice his faith. And when he got to what would become Medina, it was in search of freedom of religious worship, not power. Power was thrust upon him. “He did not especially want to run a state,” explained the Sheikh. “But when he got to Medina, he had to organize it properly.”
