Are the isti’aadhah and basmalah part of the opening du’aa’ of the prayer?

The istiaadaha and basmalah are not part of the opening
duaa reported from the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him), although they are part of what should be recited at the beginning of the prayer.
Aaishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allaah

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to open his prayer with takbeer
(Allaahu akbar).

(Reported by Muslim, no. 498)

As regards saying the istiaadhah and basmalah in
the second rakah, the scholars differ on this matter. The basmalah should be recited
in every rakah, when reciting al-Faatihah, but it should not be recited
aloud, because there is some dispute as to whether it is part of al-Faatihah or not. Those
scholars who say that it is not part of al-Faatihah recommend that it should be recited
before al-Faatihah in each rakah.

So to be on the safe side, the worshipper should recite the basmalah,
silently, in every rakah.

With regard to the istiaadhah, there is no difference among the
scholars, all of whom say that it is not part of Soorat al-Faatihah, but there is some
discussion among them concerning the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): So
when you want to recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allaah [al-Nahl
16:98]

Those who take the aayah at face value say that the istiaadhah
should be recited in every rakah, before reciting al-Faatihah and the basmalah. This
is the opinion of the Shaafais and is the most correct opinion in their view.

(Al-Majmoo,
3/323). Al-Hasan al-Basri, Ataa and Ibraaheem al-Nakhai
also recommended taawwudh in every rakah.

Ibn Hazm (may Allaah have mercy on him) favoured this opinion, and it
was also reported that Imaam Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy on
him) mentioned it in Aadaab al-Mashiy ilal-Salaah. This opinion was also
favoured by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)

(al-Insaaf
2/74), who said in al-Ikhtiyaaraat: Taawwudh is
recommended at the beginning of every recitation. (p.50). This is also the opinion
of al-Allaamah al-Albaani.

Some scholars say that it is to be recited at the beginning of the
first rakah only, and does not have to be repeated in the other rakahs. This
is the opinion of the Hanbalis

(al-Insaaf, 2/73).
Al-Shawkaani thought that the correct opinion was to recite it in the first rakah
only. (Nayl al-Awtaar, 3/39, 139-140).

The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to
seek refuge with Allaah when he prayed. He used to say Aoodhu Billaahi min
al-shaytaan il-rajeem min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafathih (I seek refuge with Allaah
from the accursed Shaytaan, from his evil insinuations).

(reported by Abu
Dawood). Sometimes he would expand on this and say, Aoodhu
Billaahi il-Samee il-Aleem min al-shaytaan il-rajeem min hamzihi wa
nafkhihi wa nafathih (I seek refuge with Allaah, the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, from
the accursed Shaytaan, from his evil insinuations). (Reported by Abu Dawood
and al-Tirmidhi). And Allaah knows best.