Al-Quran: on Patience, and Goodness...

Act patience; your patience comes only from God. Do not feel saddened because of them nor be in any anguish over how they plot. God stands alongside those who fulfill their duty and who act kindly.

Surah An-Nahl (16:127-128), Translation by T.B. Irving

My own comments: When we say all good things come from God, I think we underestimate how significant this statement means. I believe it means that all things that are good directly comes and are directly derived from God's attributes. So when we practice goodness - e.g. patience, kindness, love, etc - the actions we do and the emotions we feel are only possible because all those goodness come directly from God and that it is God who allows us to act and feel in such ways. By doing goodness to ourselves and others, we spread and amplify God's grandeur and attributes on earth.

When God explained to the angels that He will create humans on earth as khalifahs (i.e. vicegerent), I believe the above is what it means. Our entire purpose on earth is to act as God's vicegerents, to spread goodness (which is God's attributes and thus can only come from God) on earth. Each and everyone of us are khalifahs when we do our duty to do our best with our best intentions. And the best and purest of intentions is that when do something, we do it solely for the sake of God.

Definition of vicegerent: appointed person to exercise authority

The very first verse in the Quran that mentions about God's plan to create humans on earth is revealed in Al-Baqarah (2:30). In this verse, God clearly declared to the angels that He will create humans to be placed on earth as His khalifahs (i.e. vicegerent, successive authority).

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

Al-Baqarah (2:30) - Translations by Sahih International

Al-Quran: on Halal and Haram...

So eat any lawful, wholesome thing God has provided you with, and be thankful for God's favor if you have been worshipping Him. He has only forbidden you carrion {dead animals}, blood, and pork, as well as anything that has been consecrated to something besides God. Yet anyone who is obliged to do so without desiring it nor going to excess [will find] God is Forgiving, Merciful.

Surah An-Nahl (16:115) - Translations by T.B. Irving

{...} is my own addition.

Do not tell a lie about something your tongues describe (such as): "This is lawful, while this is forbidden!"; so that you fabricate a lie against God. Those who fabricate a lie about God will not prosper: [they will have] slight enjoyment, and they shall [then] have painful punishment.

Surah An-Nahl (16:116-117) - Translations by T.B. Irving

My own comment: these ayats don't only apply to those who make the forbidden things halal, but also those who forbid things that are halal. Wallah hu'alam.

TED Video on Reading the Quran

Al-Quran: No Compulsion in Religion

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error: whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the firmest handle which will never break. And God hears and knows all things."

- Al-Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah (2/256)

Al-Quran: On Reason

"Do not follow blindly any information of which you have no direct knowledge. (Using your faculties of perception and conception) you must verify it for yourself. In the Court of your Lord, you will be held accountable for your hearing, sight, and the faculty of reasoning"

- Al-Quran, Surah Al-Isra' (17/36).