Seeking refuge with Allaah at the beginning of a khutbah or lecture
Question

                Some people, when they want to start speaking in a khutbah, lecture or speech, start by saying A’oodhu Billaahi min al-Shaytaan il-raajeem (I seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed shaytaan). What is the ruling on that?.
Praise be to Allah.
    It is not prescribed to seek refuge with Allaah from the 
    accursed shaytaan when starting to speak, except when reciting Qur’aan only. 
    Allaah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): 

    “So when you want to recite the Qur’aan, seek refuge with 
    Allaah from Shaytaan (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one)”

    [al-Nahl 16:98]

    It is not mustahabb for the preacher or speaker to start his 
    words with seeking refuge with Allaah, unless there is a reason for doing 
    so, such as if the shaytaan is whispering to him (waswaas) and filling his 
    heart with pride or self admiration and the like. There is nothing wrong 
    with seeking refuge with Allaah in that case for that reason, when seeking 
    refuge is not done in order to start speaking. Allaah says (interpretation 
    of the meaning): 

    “And if an evil whisper from Shaytaan (Satan) tries to 
    turn you away (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) 
    (from doing good), then seek refuge in Allaah. Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, 
    the All‑Knower”

    [Fussilat 41:36]. 

    Shaykh Bakr Abu Zayd said: 

    It is not prescribed to seek refuge with Allaah when starting 
    to speak about something good, apart from recitation of the Holy Qur’aan. 
    Hence starting to speak or preach by seeking refuge with Allaah has no 
    basis. This is indicated by what Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on 
    him) noted when discussing the benefits of seeking refuge with Allaah, when 
    he said: 

    Seeking refuge before reciting is a signal that what is to 
    follow is Qur’aan. Hence it is not prescribed to seek refuge before any 
    other kind of speech, rather seeking refuge is an introduction that alerts 
    the listener to the fact that what is to follow is Qur’aanic recitation, so 
    that when the listener hears the words seeking refuge, he can prepare 
    himself to listen to the words of Allaah. It is also prescribed for the 
    reader, if he is alone, for the reasons that we have mentioned of this 
    ruling and others. End quote. 

    Tasheeh al-Du’aa’ (p. 273).