very Being Has a Code: Genetic Fingerprinting, Qur’anic ‘Communities’, and the Promise of Perfect Justice

Genetic fingerprinting is a precise scientific method used to identify a living organism based on its genetic composition found in DNA. It serves a function similar to that of fingerprints in distinguishing individuals, but it relies on deeper information within the cells. This fingerprinting does not involve analyzing the entire DNA but focuses on specific regions known as Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)—short segments of genetic material that repeat consecutively. The number of these repeats varies from person to person, making them ideal for distinguishing individuals.

When scientists analyze these segments, they are not looking for inherited traits like eye color or height. Instead, they count how many times these small units repeat at specific locations in the DNA, producing a unique pattern for each individual, akin to a genetic “barcode.” This pattern is nearly unique to every human, making it extremely unlikely for two individuals to match—except for identical twins who share almost the same genetic material.

This system is not limited to humans; it also exists in animals, plants, and all other living organisms, since DNA is the common foundation of all life. Consequently, genetic fingerprinting is applied in various fields, such as forensic investigations to identify perpetrators, proving lineage in family cases, tracking and protecting animals, or establishing ownership.

The process involves taking a simple sample from the body, such as blood or saliva, isolating the DNA, analyzing the STR regions, and then presenting the results as a distinctive pattern that can be compared with others. Through such comparisons, matches or differences can be determined with very high precision.

Thus, genetic fingerprinting represents an internal biological identity for every living organism, based on subtle variations in DNA structure. It is among the most powerful scientific tools developed in the modern era to distinguish individuals and understand biological relationships.

We can relate this concept of genetic fingerprinting to the meaning of the Qur’anic verse:

“There is no creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like you. We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord they will be gathered.” (Al-An‘am 6:38)

Here, the emphasis is on contemplating the precision and organization of creation, rather than providing an exclusive exegesis. The verse establishes that all living beings are “communities” (umam), each governed by its own systems and laws, just like humans. Today, science has revealed that every living being carries an internal system to define and distinguish its identity through genetic fingerprints based on STRs, which differ from one individual to another within the same species—and similar systems exist in animals and plants. This means that every individual within these “communities” has a unique biological identity, as if recorded precisely within an overarching system where no one is confused with another.

Hence, the phrase “We have not neglected anything in the Book” can be understood as a reflection of divine knowledge and awareness of all creation’s details, whether humans recognized them in the past or have only recently discovered them. This astonishing precision in distinguishing each organism, down to minute molecules within cells, reflects a meticulous order free from randomness, aligning with the general meaning of the verse regarding God’s encompassing knowledge and design.

The verse concludes: “then to their Lord they will be gathered,” indicating that despite differences and diversity, all these creatures are part of a single system of creation and destiny; none are neglected or abandoned, but each has significance in God’s knowledge and decree. Contemplating this, one could say that the same God who counts their precise differences in this world—even at the level of genetic fingerprinting—also sees everything at the time of gathering.

This understanding is complemented by the Prophet ﷺ’s teaching about justice on the Day of Judgment, where he said:

“Rights will be restored to their owners on the Day of Resurrection, even the hornless sheep will be taken from the horned ones if wronged.”
(Sahih Muslim)

This means that a hornless sheep that was wronged by a horned sheep will be compensated. Combining this hadith with the Qur’anic verse highlights a profound meaning: all living beings are not scattered, random creations, but organized communities with laws and systems, living within a precise order that includes even the minutest details of their existence, as seen in DNA and genetic fingerprints based on STRs. Each organism has a defined identity that does not overlap with another, as if precisely recorded in a comprehensive system.

The hadith further emphasizes that this organization is not limited to earthly life but extends to the Hereafter, where divine justice applies even to animals. If a sheep is held accountable for an offense in this world, it is rectified in accordance with justice. This shows that the system governing these “communities” is not arbitrary but based on perfect justice.

Thus, the phrase “then to their Lord they will be gathered” does not merely report a gathering but implies judgment and fairness, with each being treated according to its condition; humans are accountable for their responsibilities, and animals are gathered for justice before returning to dust. The common principle is that nothing is lost, no injustice is neglected, and every being—however small—is within God’s knowledge and authority.

In this way, faith and science converge: just as every organism has a unique fingerprint in this world, so does each have an “account” in the Hereafter, ensuring that every right is fulfilled and divine justice is manifested in its fullest form.

With best regards,
Your brother, Dr. Mohamed Bourbab
Professor of Biology for Forensic and Administrative Professions.