Gattaca: Human Potential, Greatness and God

Stories can be powerful and not only instructive but also inspirational. One story I have personally always found particularly inspiring captured in the film Gattaca. Starring Ethan Hawke, Uma Therman, Jude Law and others, Gattaca is the story of a man born into a world in which human beings are not seen as they could be, but rather as they are likely to be based purely on material possibilities of their genetic code.

In this dystopian future, which increasingly seems not so far off, Vincent Freeman aspires to be an astronaut, yet will not be even considered by the prestigious Gattaca simply because he was a natural birth, in contrast to being a genetically engineered human being, and is thus considered to be an “invalid,” or of sub-par stock.

Nevertheless, his hope, faith and belief in his dream is greater than the limitations the world seeks to impose on him, and in his pursuit of greatness begins to actualize his human potential, which inevitably, in his own words, is to help him return “home” to the stars.

God-Child

Vincent is born by natural conception, in contrast to the increasing norm of genetic engineering and scientific selection. Such an individual is referred to in the world as a “God-child,” a “love-child,” or a “faith-birth.”

It is interesting to note here that the terms associated with the natural order of things all point to and constitute a degree of belief in the will of the Divine and in surrender to God. It is also interesting to note that a purely “science” based paradigm is thus positioned as antithesis to such surrender and to faith, and how such an approach to it in which humility before the Almighty is lacking inevitably leads to loss of belief in the Creator.

Faith Versus Science

We see in the world of Gattaca little dependence upon the Divine and increasing reliance upon science, and thus the self, to actualize human potential.

Such a dichotomy is best portrayed by the characters of Vincent Freeman, played by Ethan Hawke, and Jerome Morrow, who is played by Jude Law. Jerome, while being genetically engineered and a near perfect human specimen, is plagued by failing to live up to his potential, ultimately succumbing to depression and despondency, and seeks to take his own life.

Vincent on the other hand, who is expected to not live past 30 years of age and with highly probable tendencies towards debilitating physical and psychological conditions, supremely excels in actualizing his human potential and achieving what relatively few others can.

Rather than succumb to the expected destiny of his genetic code, Vincent through the power of passion, faith and belief taps into something greater than the limitations of the world and remarkably outperforms to the astonishment of all who truly know him.

In many ways, the dichotomy between Vincent and Jerome is the discussion of epigenetics, powerfully captured by Dr. Bruce Lipton in his pioneering work, the Biology of Belief. In the Biology of Belief, Dr. Lipton juxtaposes environment with genetics, and makes the powerful and at this point undisputed claim that environmental forces and factors, or human will, can more often than not overcome genetic predisposition.

In such a paradigm, we begin to understand not only the reality of human potential, but also the meaning of free will. It is no accident that Vincent’s last name is Freeman, indicating that he is thus in truth a free man, one who has overcome the limitations of the self and actualized his human potential for greatness. Furthermore, we begin to realize that belief is the key to the awakening of human potential, and that nothing short of miracles are possible through the power of faith which has taken root in the human heart.

Such truth is persistently relayed by the great prophet and messenger of God, Jesus (as), who time and again states to his disciples that if they “have faith but as a mustard seed… nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

Verily, I say unto you, if you have faith but as a mustard seed, you can say unto this mountain, “Move,” and it shall move, and nothing shall be impossible for you.

Jesus (as) [Matthew 17:20]

Satan and Genetic Superiority

In the film Gattaca, the narrative states that discrimination has now been perfected to a science, for now human beings are no longer separated and segregated simply by their physical appearance or place of origin, but rather by their very genetic code.

It is also of interest here to note that the first instance of claimed genetic and material superiority was committed by Satan (see The Root Cause and Origin of Racism). When Allah Almighty commanded him to bow down, humble and submit himself to Adam (as), Satan refused, stating that he himself was made of a superior substance.

And behold, We said unto the angels, “Bow down to Adam,” and they bowed down. Not so Iblis. He refused and was arrogant, and of those who reject faith.

Surah al-Baqara [2:34]

Again, here we see the juxtaposition between spirit, that which is internal, and material, that which is external. Also here we see how increasing reliance on the means and on material leads to diminishing faith and reliance upon the Divine.

It is not surprising then that Satan, who is bound to primarily the one-dimensional perception of but the material, was wont to discount and discredit the creation of Adam (as) as a worthy inheritor of divine deputyship (khilafah), for it was precisely the humble nature and creation of the first man, in addition to the emptiness within his structure, that makes it possible for the human being to carry the will, power and light of God.

Satan, may we be protected from his misguidance, thus advances the materialist paradigm which ignores at best and outright denies at worst the existence of Spirit. Sadly, the now primarily materialist paradigm which dominates, and with its increasing reliance on technology for power, leads to the loss of human potential and miraculous possibility, for the materialist denies the divine spark within, the “X Factor,” that which is subtle, immaterial and incalculable.

Unfortunately, “science” when divorced from faith and from humility and reverence increasingly becomes the tool of the devil in distancing human beings from their Creator and in trust and reliance upon He and surrender to His will, leading to the loss of both divine purpose and divine potential.

The Key to Human Potential

What we see well portrayed in the film Gattaca is that the key to human potential is faith and belief in the heart, for it is in the human heart that connection and access to the Divine and to Spirit are possible.

It has been reported in a Hadith Qudsi relayed in Imam Ghazali’s Ihya Ulum ad-Din that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has stated that God has said, “Neither My earth nor my heavens contains Me, yet the tender heart of My believing servant does.”

When coupled with understanding, we begin to realize that the key to human potential is in our connection to our Creator, and that through the power of Sacred Spirit, miracles are possible for the deputy and vicegerent of God.

In other words, the awakening and actualization of human potential is realized with the awakening of the human heart, in which has been placed divine capacity by the Creator, who Himself “breathed” Divine Spirit into man [15:29, 32:9, 38:72].

It is for this reason that the great master of classical and traditional Islamic spirituality, Shah Bahauddin Naqshband al-Bukhari (qs), taught that the highest realization of the spiritual path (at-Tariqa) is the awakening of the human heart, and that thus is human potential actualized.

The Journey Home

In the film Gattaca, Vincent is driven by the beautiful obsession to “return” to the stars, citing that as we are all fundamentally made from stardust, returning to the heavens is in effect returning “home.”

It is this soul-driven desire to return to his source and origin, at least as best as he is capable, that propels him to greatness and overcoming not only seemingly insurmountable external and environmental obstacles, but also to overcoming his own personal, psychological, physical and even biological limitations and genetic predispositions.

The soul’s innate and inherent drive and desire to return home is a powerful force, and in truth one that propels us towards our true Home and Source, the Divine Presence of Allah Almighty—the Creator, and Lord of Heavens and Earth.

It is for this reason that the noble Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is reported as having stated, “Love for one’s homeland is from faith,” for such love and yearning for one’s place of origin is in reality love and yearning for one’s true and eternal home and place of origin.

It is important to note here that many scholars do not deem this hadith (tradition or narration of the Prophet ﷺ) as verifiably authentic. Nevertheless, we can still take benefit from it regardless as it is consistent with his way and teachings, and he ﷺ himself throughout his life expressed love and yearning for his temporal home, which was Mecca.

It is also important to note here that such love is not equivalent to nationalism, which is identification with a particular nation or race, and that such is antithetical to the teachings, principles and path of al-Islam.

Thus, it is no surprise that the great scholar of the religion and its spiritual path, Shaykh Abdul-Khaliq al-Ghujdwani (qs), included as one of his Eight Principles of the Path the principle Journey Home. In doing so, he sought to continually remind seekers that this temporal world of form is transient, that we are but travelers as the holy Prophet ﷺ stated, and that our true home is in the eternal world beyond.

Actualization of Human Potential

In the film, Vincent must awaken and cultivate his inherent human potential, pushing himself to his limits, if he is to attain his dream of becoming a pilot at Gattaca. This principle is entirely consistent with the Islamic principle that teaches a human being’s potential is actualized through the awakening and cultivation of the sacred and divine attributes of God, and that by doing so, we draw nearer unto His Divine Presence.

In this way, the actualization of greatness in the human being is what in fact makes it possible for us to know God, this being the very purpose of our creation. In other words, personal evolution paves the way to ascent and ascension, for true greatness can only be realized through the transformation and awakening of consciousness.

In this way, a human being becomes truly a Hu-man being, a man (human) who is connected to and sustained by the Creator, Allah Almighty, also known as He, or Hu (see Who and What is Hu?). Thus divine vicegerency and deputyship (khilafa) is established and realized, and a human being so awakens to the true purpose of his or her creation.

Here, it is key and critical to note that greatness does not come from us, i.e. not from the self, but rather greatness is of and from God, and we awaken greatness within ourselves to the degree that we diminish our very selves, i.e. transcend the ego.

In other words, the servant of God never claims greatness for him, but rather persistently affirms that God is Great and his total, complete and absolute reliance upon He Almighty. It is thus Allah Almighty affirms in the Holy Qur’an that they who truly, fully, completely and wholly rely upon He will find Him sufficient.

And whosoever places his trust in God, He is sufficient for him.

Surah at-Talaq [65:3]

Possibilities and the Quantum Field

As we enter into the discussion of human potential and the awakening of it, and realize that such is in reality based in our connection to our Creator, we are inexorably drawn to spiritual practice as the means for actualizing sacred and divine deputyship.

It is for this reason that Allah Almighty asserts in the Holy Qur’an that human beings (and jinn) have been created for worship, for it is worship that connects us to our Creator and establishes the human being as the vicegerent of the Almighty.

I have created the jinn and men but that they worship Me.

Surah adh-Dhariyat [51:56]

Here, it is also essential to note that the key to connecting with Allah Almighty in worship, and thereby awakening to our true beings as vicegerents and emissaries of his divine will, is in connection and oneness with our breath, for He Almighty states in numerous places in the Qur’an that when He breathes His Spirit into man, that then creation is bound to prostrate before the Hu-man being, he who is connected to and subsistent upon the Lord of Heavens and Earth.

This is such a fundamental principle of spiritual awakening and of the spiritual path that the great Shaykh Abdul-Khaliq (qs) established consciousness of and connection with the breath as the first Pillar of the Way, for it is through deep meditation with and through the breath that the human being enters into deeper states of consciousness, ultimately connecting with the Source of Creation by becoming fully immersed in the Ocean of Power, Light, Energy and Spirit known as Bahr al-Qudra.

This domain and dimension is also known as the Quantum Field from which springs all possibilities and potentialities, and they who are deeply connected with it are they who are capable of executing divine will, order and decree, by His leave and permission. In fact, such are know in the Qur’an as the People of Order and Authority (ūlil amr), and we are commanded by Allah Almighty to obey and follow them.

O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and the People of Order and Authority from amongst yourselves.

Surah an-Nisa [4:59]

Perhaps one of the great examples of such an individual from amongst human beings is that of the great and mighty Prophet Jesus (as), whom Allah Almighty describes in the Qur’an as being supported with the Sacred Spirit [2:87], meaning that he more than nearly any other was so deeply connected with breath and spirit that he could literally command miracles into existence, by the will, power and leave of God.

Here, it is also important to note that such possibility is not limited to just the prophets and messengers of God, for Jesus (as) himself states in numerous places throughout the Gospels that they who truly believe could likewise perform such miracles.

All things are possible for he who believes.

Jesus (as) [Mark 9:23]

This truth is also affirmed from amongst the Hadith Qudsi of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, most notably in which he relates that God has said in reference to such true servants, “I become the ears with which he hears, the eyes with which he sees, the hand with which he strikes and the feet with which he walks,” [Hadith Qudsi].

There is No Gene for the Human Spirit

The tagline for the film Gattaca reads, “There is no gene for the human spirit.” This simple yet brilliant statement beautifully summarizes the essence of the matter, specifically that the key to the awakening of human potential and thus of greatness is Spirit.

In the film, when the Mission Director Josef, played by Gore Vidal, is asked about Gattaca’s strict and stringent acceptance standards, he states, “We have to ensure that people are meeting their potential.” He is then asked about the possibility of people exceeding their potential, and he responds by saying, “No one exceeds his potential. [If he did], it simply means that we did not accurately gauge his potential in the first place.”

This statement, proposition and belief demonstrates the purely “science” based paradigm in which all possibilities are reduced to the measurable, the rational and the predictable, a position which is in stark contrast to the fundamental tenets of faith that human potential is actualized precisely by transcending the world of form, material and matter.

We also see here again how by tapping into the power of the human spirit, which derives its capacity and potential from the Spirit of the Divine, a human being can transcend worldly and material limitations, awakening their innate divine potential, and in effect awakening to unbounded possibilities and the actualization of miracles.

The point that the film Gattaca makes here is that indeed, human potential is not accurately gauged when but reduced to and limited by material components and physical biology, for the human spirit through the power of belief has the power to perform miracles and manifest that which would be otherwise improbable or impossible, with the will, support and grace of God.

God is Great

Classical faith and traditional spirituality continually and persistently affirm that “God is Great.” For those who have embraced al-Islam and who practice it, this statement is affirmed many times daily and constitutes the beginning of the ritual prayer practice of salah, and through which one enters into connection and communion with the Divine.

By habitually affirming that Greatness is with and of God, the believer thus trains his soul in maintaining a position and posture of humility in the Presence of the Divine, and so saves himself from arrogance and pride by preventing the ascribing of greatness to the self.

To summarize, human potential is nearly limitless, yet it can only truly be realized and actualized through the power of Spirit. Thus, spirituality is the key to the liberation and freedom of the human soul. Towards this end, the persistent affirming of faith coupled with deep meditative spiritual practice is indispensable towards the awakening of human potential.

To your divine and eternal success.