Is the hadith about seeking knowledge in China authentic?

Al-jawab billahi at-taufeeq (the answer with Allah’s guidance)

1) This Hadith “seek knowledge as far as China” is fabricated. Mawdoo’ (fabricated) are those narrations, which the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) had never said but someone imposed a lie upon the messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). Mawdoo’ is regarded The worst of the rejected reports.

The scholars who critiqued this Hadith are:

al-Bayhaqi

“Its text is famous, yet it is a weak hadith; it has been narrated by chains which are all entirely weak…” (Shu’ab al-Iman)

Ibn al-Qaysarani

“It contains Abu Atikah Tarif ibn Salman he is Rejected in hadith to the utmost (Munkar al Hadith jiddan)…” (Tadhkirat al-Huffadh)

Ibn al-Jawzi

“It is not authentic…” (al-Mawdu’at)

al-Dhahabi

Mentions Abu Atikah Tarif ibn Salman and those that disparaged him and this hadith in (MIzan al-‘Itidal)

Al-Sakhawi

“…it is weak…” (al-Maqasid al-Hasanah)

2) Mawdudi was not a scholar. One should abstain from any literature of Mawdudi
as it is extensively misleading.

Click on this link to read more: http://www.central-mosque.com/aqeedah/Mawdudi.htm

And Only Allah Ta’ala Knows Best.

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Moulana Qamruz Zaman
London, UK