A Dialogue with Youth and Artificial Intelligence By: Hossam Badrawi

A Dialogue with Youth and Artificial Intelligence
By: Hossam Badrawi

Does the Soul Have a Genetic Code Like the Body?

The body is governed by a list of genetic codes that we have studied, researched, and sometimes even manipulated. But does the soul have a genetic code? And where is its DNA?

I was explaining to young dreamers about the development of an embryo in a mother’s womb, how life begins with two cells merging and then evolving into a multicellular being, developing organs and systems within the fetus, each with distinct functions.

The discussion progressed to when this fetus becomes a human being, then when the soul enters it, and finally, where the nafs (self/soul), as mentioned in the Quran, resides—since it is the essence that lives and dies.

Do animals, plants, and microbes have a soul?
And if the soul is the energy of life, how can life exist without a soul?

After this conversation with the youth, I had a philosophical dialogue with Artificial Intelligence (AI), which went as follows:

AI’s Perspective on the Body and the Soul

AI stated that there is a difference in composition between the body and the soul. The body consists of cells containing DNA, which determines genetic traits and physical and chemical characteristics.

The soul, on the other hand, is a more abstract concept—it encompasses emotions, perception, consciousness, and memory. These processes depend on the brain and the nervous system but are not merely the result of DNA alone; they are also influenced by environment and life experiences.

If the soul is shaped by neurological and hormonal interactions, then part of it might be genetically programmed, such as innate tendencies and emotional intelligence.
But the soul is also affected by environment, upbringing, and culture, making it more flexible than genes.

Scientific fields like neuroscience, genetic psychology, and behavioral genetics suggest that some psychological traits—such as introversion or neuroticism—have a partial genetic basis.

There is also the concept of epigenetics, which explains how environmental factors influence gene expression. This could explain how personality traits emerge through the interaction of genes and experiences.

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence, theories have emerged about the possibility of a psychological code similar to the genetic code—but not biological. Instead, it is based on data, behavior, and stored experiences, whether in the brain or even digitally, as seen in AI models.

My Response to AI: The Quranic Perspective

I responded by quoting the Quran:

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned.”
(Al-Baqarah: 286)

I see this verse as carrying deep philosophical dimensions regarding the nature of the soul, its responsibilities, and its development.

The verse suggests that the soul has innate capabilities (a created code), which define its basic energy and capacity, but it can also acquire and develop through experience and effort.

• “It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained” → The soul benefits from its efforts and achievements, indicating that self-improvement and growth depend on human actions.
• “And it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned” → The soul is responsible for its actions, proving that it is not static but dynamic, evolving and changing based on choices and decisions.

The Quran mentions multiple types of souls, suggesting that each soul has a natural programming or fundamental code, but this code can change through behavior:

1. The Tranquil Soul (Nafs Mutma’inna): A balanced soul that has attained inner peace and satisfaction. This suggests that there is a stable psychological code that can be nurtured and achieved.
2. The Self-Reproaching Soul (Nafs Lawwama): A soul in a state of evolution and self-correction, recognizing mistakes and striving for improvement. This indicates that the core code of the soul can be reprogrammed through conscience and experience.
3. The Commanding Soul (Nafs Ammara Bis-Su’): A soul inclined toward evil. This may be part of its natural disposition (a created code), but it is not doomed—it can change through willpower, discipline, and experience.

Thus, we can say that the soul has a dynamic code, not a fixed one.

From a scientific perspective, the soul can be compared to Artificial Intelligence—starting with a basic code but learning and evolving through data and experiences.

The learning process and continuous experience shape the final performance of the soul, just as AI models evolve through training.

The Deep Philosophical Question: Divine Justice and Human Responsibility

A profound philosophical question arises:

If humans are born with a created code (natural disposition and biological/psychological traits), but also influenced by environment and life experiences, how can divine judgment be fair if circumstances are not equal for everyone?

The Quran clarifies that divine judgment is not based on a single rigid standard but rather considers:

1. The soul’s natural capacity → “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity” (Al-Baqarah: 286). Each person is judged based on their innate abilities and what they can achieve.
2. Intentions and motivations → “No soul earns [wrong] except against itself, and no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another.” (Al-An’am: 164). Each person is responsible for their own choices, and judgment considers internal motivations.
3. Circumstances and opportunities → “And We never punish until We have sent a messenger.” (Al-Isra: 15). A person is not held accountable by the same standard if they lacked opportunities for knowledge and choice.

Since the soul is not static but evolves throughout life, divine justice is not based on a single measure but rather on what a person was capable of changing:

• Did they seek knowledge?
• Did they strive for self-improvement?
• Did they struggle against their desires?

At the same time, divine judgment considers external factors like coercive environments, poverty, and forced ignorance.

Thus, human existence is a balance between determinism and free will:

• Deterministic aspects → Natural traits, genetics, environment, and upbringing.
• Free will → How the person interacts with these factors—whether they seek improvement or surrender.

The Ultimate Question: Does Free Will Exist If God Already Knows Everything?

If God knows in advance how a person will act based on their composition and circumstances, does free will truly exist?
Or is life merely a digital simulation governed by predetermined algorithms?

I believe that humans are neither fully free nor fully controlled—they exist between the two, like a chess player in a game with fixed rules but the freedom to move within them.

• The predetermined aspects → Biological traits, genetics, environment, and circumstances.
• The chosen aspects → How a person interacts with these factors, makes choices, and develops themselves.

God knows all outcomes, but He does not force humans into specific actions:
“Indeed, We guided him to the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.” (Al-Insan: 3)

A Scientific Comparison with Artificial Intelligence

A trained AI model starts with a pre-set code (created programming), but it learns and adapts based on data and experiences (acquired programming).

Similarly:

• Genetics and environment are the pre-set code.
• Choices and experiences are the acquired learning process.

A Final Thought: Is the Soul a Divine Code?

If the body and soul can be understood through biological and psychological codes, could the spirit be a divine hidden code?

In computer science, there is a concept of a secret key, an invisible yet essential element for system operation.

Perhaps the spirit is the “divine key” that makes the body and soul function—an unreplicable, encrypted code known only to the Creator.

If the body is merely a vessel for the soul, and the soul is shaped by experience, then perhaps our true purpose is to work on our souls to be worthy of life itself.