In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr [hafidhahullaah] said:

To seek Allaah’s refuge before reciting the Qur’aan is legislated because shaytaan is extremely eager to divert a servant [of Allaah] from this Great Book; [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from achieving success through the guidance of the Qur’aan; [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from understanding its meanings and what that necessitates and  [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from acting upon it. Therefore, it is legislated for the servant to seek Allaah’s Refuge against this shaytaan so that his recitation of the Qur’aan is safe from shaytaan’s whispers, trap [or oppressive deeds], his arrogance and poetry [i.e. false speech]. [An Excerpt from Sharh Ad-Duroos Al-Muhimmah Li-Aammatil Ummah’ page 13.  By Shaikh Abdur Razzaaq Al-Badr (may Allaah preserve him). Slightly paraphrased]