Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China

Question: According to certain information, the following Hadith was considered as a fabricated Hadith. Is that true? “Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China”.

Answer: "Seek knowledge even if you have to go as far as China because seeking knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim".

It is a Hadith which was narrated by Hazrat Anas (Radiyallahu anhu) and was selected by Ibn Adi in Al Kamil, Hafiz Ibn-ul-Barr in his Jami-ul-Bayaan Fil-‘Ilm, Baihaqui in his Al-Mudkhal and Shu'bul-Imaan. Imam Al Ghazali (Rahmatullahi Alaiyh) also has mentioned this Hadith in his Ihya-ul-Ulum.

Al Hafiz Zain-ud-Deen-Al-Iraqui, an eminent scholar of Hadith of the 8th century Hijri, who wrote a book to analyse the status of every Hadith which is mentioned in Ihya-ul-Ulum, said: "Al Baihaqui says that its Matn (content) is Mashhur (well-known) but its Sanad (chain of narrations) is weak."

So, according to Imam Baihaqui, a scholar of Hadith of the 5th century Hijri, the Hadith in question is narrated by several sources and each source is weak. In light of what Al Baihaqui has mentioned, we understand that the Hadith in question is not “Maudu” (fabricated) as a weak Sanad does not necessarily mean that the Hadith is fabricated. At times, such a Hadith may get the chance and the possibility of attaining the rank of a "Hassan" (good/passable) Hadith when it is narrated by several Sanads as it is a principle established by the Muhadditheen (scholar of Hadith).

Al Hafiz Al Iraqui who had also engaged himself to situate the position of the Hadith which were mentioned in Ihya-ul-Ulum of Imam Al Ghazali (Rahmatullahi Alaiyh), did not find anything to label this Hadith as “Maudu” (fabricated) just as he used to do where it was necessary.

Therefore, the Hadith in question is not “Maudu” (fabricated). It is a weak Hadith with a possibility of being elevated to the rank of “Hassan” (good/passable). Indeed, Allaamah Al-Mizzi mentions that the Hadith has several Sanads. As a whole, it can attain the rank of a “Hassan” Hadith. As for Allaamah Al-Azeezi of As-Sirajul-Munir, the commentary of Al-Jaami-us-Sagheer, he considers the Hadith as "Hassan li ghairihi": That is, a Hadith which has been considered as Hassan (good) for external reasons.

[English version of ""Cherche la connaissance même jusqu'à en chine"" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.7]