His Eminence Sheikh Abdullah bin Khunain, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta', asserted that only memorizing the Quran and Sunnah does not create a jurisprudent. He added that a scholar should have other characteristics, besides acquiring a sound jurisprudential foundation, for him to be a qualified jurisprudent.

This was mentioned during a scholarly workshop held by the College of Shari`ah and Islamic Studies at Umm Al-Qura University today, Wednesday, in King Abdulaziz Historical Hall. The workshop was entitled: 'Characteristics of a Jurisprudent', and was attended by His Excellency the UQU President, Prof. Abdullah Bafail, the Dean of the College, Dr. Raed Al-Usaimi, and a number of heads of the departments, academic staff members, and students.

During the workshop, whose activities will last until tomorrow, Thursday, the member of the Council of Senior Scholars explained the importance of a proper jurisprudential foundation in creating a jurisprudent. He also stressed the significance of recording and reviewing knowledge, and considering carefully books on Islamic jurisprudence with the aim of acquiring sound jurisprudential skills. Moreover, Sheikh Abdullah mentioned the jurisprudential and innate characteristics that a jurisprudent must have: a good understanding and perception, astuteness, strong observational powers, acuteness, carefulness, self-control, determination, and independence.