The Role of Heredity in the Destiny of Human from the Viewpoint of Quran and Hadith

An indisputable element in the destiny of humans is the law of heredity. Spiritual and ethical features, similar to physical features, are transferred, through hereditary elements (genes), from parents to children. Some people accept the exclusive role of heredity in determining the destiny of humans but from the viewpoint of some others, the law of heredity is only a basis and is effective in a person’s actions as a requirement and not as definite causality. As a result, it can be strengthened or weakened under the effect of environmental factors, especially upbringing methods; moreover, the humans’ willpower has a considerable role in their prosperity and adversity. It has been tried, in this research to review the place of heredity in the destiny of humans from the viewpoints of the science of genetics, the Quran and the narrations, and the result is that the element of heredity is not dominant on humans’ destiny and does not have an exclusive role in determining it. As a result, people with any type of heredity can be nurtured and are required [to obey the laws of religion], and one of the aims of the prophets is to reinforce desirable hereditary resources and modify disagreeable hereditary bases.