When his Lord put Abraham to test

"And when his Rabb put Ibrahim to test with certain Words, and he fulfilled them. He (God) said, 'I am going to make you an Imaam for the people'..."

(Al-Qur'an, Surah al-Baqarah, part of verse 124)

Sweet commentary in Mufti Muhammad Shaafi'ee's Ma'aariful Qur'an about this verse! Boiled down...

We see in this verse the purpose of the many tests and trials which the Prophet Abraham was made to pass through. It was not punishment for a crime or anything like that! The attribute of God - Rabb - used in the verse conveys the purpose finely: it was to develop and nurture him, gradually, in stages, for his role, his reward you could say, to be an Imaam, a guide, a leader, for his people.

Envy vs Contentment

"... Contentment is a treasure that never exhausts.
Know that that which has been allotted for you, it will reach you..."

(Quote from the chapter on envy in the 'Purification of the Heart' audio series)

Envy: a want aroused on sight of someone else's possessions, qualities or luck.

Contentment: satisfaction in what one is and has.

Dua: For You alone

Nice Dua I found last night in Mawlaanaa Ashraf Ali Thanawi's 'The Accepted Whispers' (Khalid Baig's translation, page 111):

(1) O Allah, for You alone is all praise.
(2) For You alone is all gratitude.
(3) Yours alone is the entire dominion.
(4) To You alone belongs the entire creation.
(5) All good is in Your hands alone.
(6) And the disposal of all matters ultimately rests in You alone.
(7) I beg You for all good
(8) And I seek protection in You from all evil.

(1) Allahumma lakal-hamdu kulluh(u),
(2) wa lakash-shukru kulluh(u),
(3) wa lakal-mulku kulluh(u),
(4) wa lakal-khalqu kulluh(u),
(5) biyadikal-khayru kulluh(u),
(6) wa ilayka yarji3ul-amru kulluh(u),
(7) as-aluka minal-khayri kullih(i),
(8) wa a3oodhu bika minash-sharri kullih(i).

It's referenced in 'The Accepted Whispers' as having been taken from [Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri. Kanz al-'Ummal #22551].

New Testament: Be ye serpents, Be ye doves

Be ye wise,

shrewd, as serpents.

Be ye innocent,

harmless, as doves.

(Slight adaptation of Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 10, Verse 16)

New Testament: The Harvest

The harvest is plenteous,

the labourers few.

(Part of Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 9, Verse 37)

Ma'ariful Qur'an: The Free

On them shall be no fear,

for that which is to come.

nor will they grieve,

over that which has passed.

Attachment

Where you lay your treasure,

there will your heart be.

(Play on words of Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 6, Verses 19-21)