Indeed, the huge nation cannot wait any longer for the Muslims to resolve their nagging debate on the authenticity of the expression and other trivialities, as they are now within sight to topple even the United States (US), as to be the largest economy in the world.
Today, China economy is the fastest growing in the world, with output growth rate in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been growing consistently at an average rate of 10% over the past 30 years. China is currently the largest exporter and second largest importer of goods in the world, as well as the world’s largest car market, and the biggest energy consumer.
The significant growth in its investment, consumption, and living standards is the result of economic reform initiated in the late 70s. The reform has been successful in resolving poverty issue in the country, and drive China active participation in the global market. China’s presence in world economy today not only has been made through the government but also through the private companies.
China’s currency, the Renminbi or Yuan has now becoming stronger, and has been regarded as a benchmark currency for international transactions, especially on regional basis Economic superpowers often feel threatened by rising power of the Yuan, and often accuse that the currency has brought about instability in the world trade.
For many years, Muslims have been debating on the position of the expression, whether it can be classified as authentic hadith or not. There were also disputes whether this expression is actually pronounced by the Prophet (pbuh) or just words of wisdom.
There have been differences in opinion of this on the position of the expression. There were scholars who regard this expression in the category of as a weak hadith (dhaeef), and also scholars who even reject this expression as a hadith. They opined that this expression was fabricated (mawdhu’) or fake words attributed to the Prophet (pbuh), meaning which, it was not the words of the Prophet at all, as there was no basis in claiming so.
In addition, there were scholars who opine that even if this expression is an authentic hadith, it does not mean that there is an obligation for Muslims to seek knowledge to China, in literal sense. In essence, it only urged Muslims to seek knowledge even in a far away contry, but is knowledge must be related to Syariah or religious knowledge. These opinions over the years, may have a psychology impact on the common Muslims, both in pursuing the type of knowledge and the position of China.
The Muslims scholars may have found the truth that the expression is not from the Prophet (pbuh), based on their study in the knowledge of hadith. As layman, we are obliged to uphold and respect the opinion of the scholars.
However, imagine that if Muslims did not engage in the debate on the authenticity of the expression, for so long, but instead, acknowledge it, and act accordingly to the explicit intention of the message contain in the expression. Who knows, today, Muslims must have done well economically, and may have dominated the world economy, far superior that the present advanced economies.
Whoever uttered or designed or fabricated the expression, “seek knowledge even as far as China”, for centuries ago, he was the wise one, as he could have seen the future vividly. Whilst Muslims have heard about the expression for ages, and had been, all the while, arguing, debating and disputing on it with diverging opinions, other nations have been building bridges with the modern China and have put up their strong presence in the huge nation.
Indeed, China had successfully transformed its economy from an impoverished communist nation to an economic powerhouse. It has overtaken Europe and Japan, and now within sight to take the number one position from the US, which many economic experts believe that it can be achieved between 2020 and 2030.
As for the Muslims, we may continue to embrace, and subscribe to the words or expression of wisdom of every visionaries in this world without much hesitation, but we may debate at length when we discover our own words or expression of wisdom from our own visionary from our rich intellectual civilization.
Only Allah knows best.