The well-known view in the school (1) is that the opening supplication is not recited, because it is a prayer prescribed to be brief: it contains no bowing, prostration, or testimony of faith. This indicates that the Lawgiver has taken brevity into account in it, and this view is more likely to be correct.

Then he seeks refuge, …

By his statement, “Then he seeks refuge,” he means that he says: “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.” If he wishes, he may say: “I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan, the accursed—from his incitement, his arrogance, and his spitting.” (2) Or, if he wishes, he may say: “I seek refuge in the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan, the accursed.” (3)

Seeking refuge is for the recitation, not for the prayer itself. If it were for the prayer, it would come immediately after the opening takbir, or before it. Allah says:

“So when you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.” [al-Nahl]

Thus, Allah commands seeking refuge from Satan, the accursed, when reciting the Quran.

The benefit of seeking refuge is that Satan may be kept away from a person’s heart while he recites the Book of Allah, so that he may ponder the Quran, understand its meanings, and benefit from it. For there is a difference between reading the Quran with one’s heart present and reading it while one’s heart is distracted.

When you read it with your heart present, you attain an understanding of its meanings and benefit from the Quran that you do not attain when you read it while heedless. Try it, and you will see.