It is very important for any one who is eager to read and learn that he should prioritize his learning. History is usually not authentic and history is not what we base our actions on rather it is the Book of Allaah and Sunnah of His Messenger on what every thing is based, therefore no beginner should waste time on reading history though knowing Seerah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is important. For the Seerah the book "Sealed Nectar" is sufficient.
The most important knowledge to obtain is the Book of Allaah through a trustworthy explaination. Tafseer Ibn Katheer, is one such explanation of Quraan which one must read to understand the Book beyond which there is no book.
The Qur'aan is the word of the Lord of the Worlds, which He revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), to bring mankind forth from darkness into light:
The Qur'aan is the Book of Allaah for all of mankind as Allaah says:
"Verily, We have sent down to you (O Muhammad) the Book (this Qur'aan) for mankind in truth. So whosoever accepts the guidance, it is only for his ownself; and whosoever goes astray, he goes astray only for his (own) loss. And you (O Muhammad) are not a Wakeel (trustee or disposer of affairs, or guardian) over them"[al-Zumar 39:41
Allaah says:
"Had We sent down this Qur'aan on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rent asunder by the fear of Allaah. Such are the parables which We put forward to mankind that they may reflect"[al-Hashr 58:21]
The Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) said about the Qur'an in a hadith which is recorded in Tirmidhi:
"There will be much confusion and turmoil [in the future] and the way out of this confusion/turmoil is the Book of Allah. Indeed in it [i.e. the Qur'an] is the history of those who were before you. And in it [i.e. the Qur'an] is the news of those after you [i.e. future events]. And in it is the ruling for the current situations you find yourselves in. And the Qur'an is a decisive word and not a light joke. Whichever tyrant turns against it (leaves it), Allah breaks his backbone. And whoever seeks guidance in other than it, Allah leads him astray. The Qur'an is Allah's firm rope. And the Qur'an is a book of wisdom. And the Qur'an is the Straight Path. People's caprices/desires cannot alter it. And people's tongues cannot mess it up. The scholars are never bored by reading it [as they discover new meanings in it each time]. And the Qur'an does not become "old" and "worn" by repeatedly reciting it. Its wonders never end. And this is the Qur'an that the Jinn said about "Indeed we have heard a wondrous recitation. It guides to the right path so we have believed in it." [surah Jinn]. Whoever speaks by quoting its verses has told the truth. Whoever acts according to it is given a reward. And whoever decides legal cases with it has done justice. And whoever calls to it is guided to the Straight Path." (Tirmidhi hadith #2831}
May the owner of this Quraan give us the ability to learn it and be sincere in acting on it.
