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

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said: Indeed, Allaah [The Exalted] commanded that one seeks protection against shaytaan when reciting the Qur’an. He [The Exalted] said:

فَإِذَا قَرَأۡتَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَـٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ

So when you want to recite the Qur’an, seek refuge with Allah from Shaitan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one). [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 98]

And when afflicted with magic, one recites: [قُلۡ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡفَلَقِ – Say “I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the daybreak] to the end of the Surah.  When it is the case that Allah has commanded us to seek refuge against shaytaan’s evil in these two affairs, then how about in other affairs?!

Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq Al-Badr [may Allaah preserve him] says: To seek Allaah’s refuge before reciting the Qur’aan is legislated because shaytaan is extremely eager to divert a servant from this Great Book; [extremely eager to prevent the servant] from achieving success through the guidance of the Qur’aan, from understanding its meanings and what that necessitates, and 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, his traps [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]

The Night In Which The Devils Came From Different Places to Plot Against Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]

Imaam Ibnul Jawzi [rahimahullaah] said: Abu Tayyaah [rahimahullaah] said, “I asked Abdur Rahmaan lbn Khanbash, ‘Did you meet the Prophet [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam]?’ He said, ‘’Yes.’ I said, ‘What did he do on the night when the devils plotted against him?’ He said, ‘The devils came down from every valley and side road to attack Allaah’s Messenger, and amongst them was a devil that had a torch in his hand wanting to burn Allaah’s Messenger’s face, so Jibreel came down and said, ‘O Muhammad! Say’. He said, ‘What should I say?’ He [Jibreel] said, say:

أَعُوذُ بِكَلِمَاتِ اللَّهِ التَّامَّاتِ

مِنْ شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ وَذَرَأَ وَبَرَأَ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَنْزِلُ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا ذَرَأَ فِي الْأَرْضِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ مَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتَنِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ طَارِقٍ إِلَّا طَارِقًا يَطْرُقُ بِخَيْرٍ يَا رَحْمَنُ

I seek refuge with Allaah’s perfect words from the evil of his creation, from the evil of what descends from the heavens, from the evil of what ascends into them, from the evil of the trial of day and night, and from the evil of every knocker, except for a knocker who knocks for a good reason, O Most Merciful!’ So their fire was extinguished and Allaah subdued them’”. [Reported by Imaam Ahmad 15034. Declared Saheeh by Imaam Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami 74]

lbn Abbaa [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] said, “Allaah’s Messenger [sallal laahu alayhi wasallam] used to seek refuge with Allah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husayn [radiyallaahu-anhumaa] saying: [أُعيذُكما بكلماتِ اللهِ التَّامَّةِ مِن كلِّ شيطانٍ وهامَّةٍ ومِن كلِّ عينٍ لامَّةٍ  – “O Allah! I seek refuge with Your perfect words from every devil and from poisonous pests and from every evil, harmful, envious eye.”  Then he would say, ‘This is how my forefather Ibraaheem [alayhis salaam] sought refuge with Allah for Ismaa’eel and Ishaaq [alayhimas salaam]’”. [Bukhari 3371]

[An Excerpt from Talbees Iblees with the checking of Shaikh Zayd Bin Haadee (rahimahullaah). pages 40-41. slightly paraphrased]