Translated from: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/21536
The Questioner says: Indeed I recite the Quran alhamdulillah, and when I reach (the verses mentioning the) descriptions of the Believers, I make dua to Allah that He makes me from them. And when I reach (the verses mentioning the) descriptions of the disbelievers and hypocrites1 and their ultimate abode, I seek refuge with Allah from being from them. So after the dua, must I say the Basmalah2 again, or do I continue my recitation without doing that. And is it permissible to stop the recitation to make dua? Benefit us, (I ask that) Allah benefit you.
(Answer): This is permissible, the Prophet – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – did this. So when he was in tahajjud at night – alayhis salaah was salaam – when he would come to a verse of warning (about a punishment), he would seek refuge with Allah (from the punishment). And when he came to a verse mentioning Allah’s Mercy, he would ask his Lord for His Mercy. So there is no problem with this, rather it is recommended to do this in tahajjud (prayer) at night, or in (an extra) prayer during the day, or when reciting outside of salaah (prayer). All of this is recommended. And it is not obligatory for him to say the basmalah again or the ta’awudh (seeking refuge)3. Rather, you bring (say) the dua4 then you begin the recitation (again) with no need to again say the basmalah or the ta’awudh. All of this is when you are praying by yourself an extra (non obligatory) prayer.
As for when you are praying in the obligatory prayer, then it is not established from him – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – that he would do this in the obligatory prayers. Likewise when you are praying behind the Imam, then indeed you listen to the Imam and you do not make dua with these duas when the Imam is reciting. Rather, you listen (to the recitation for the) prayers prayed out loud5. As for those prayers not prayed aloud6, then you recite the Faatihah and what is easy for you to recite along with that without using these duas that you use in the extra prayers. Because the Messenger of Allah – sallallahu alayhe wa sallam – didn’t do this in the obligatory prayers. Perhaps the reason for that – and Allah knows best – is to make it easier upon the people and not prolong it for them. Because if he made dua at every verse mentioning Allah’s Mercy and he sought refuge at every verse mentioning a threat (of punishment), then perhaps the salaah (prayer) would become very long and perhaps it would become a hardship upon the people. So it is from Allah’s Mercy and His treating His servants well and His kindness to them that He didn’t legislate this for the obligatory prayers so that the recitation (of Quran) could be continuous and so as to not make the recitation too long for the people. As for in the extra prayers, in tahajjud, in the night, in salaatud duhaa (forenoon prayer), or other than that from the extra prayers, then there is no harm in that and the affair regarding that is vast.
(Footnotes)
2Saying: Bismillahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
3Saying: أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِن الشَّيْطَانِ الرَجِيم I seek refuge with God from the cursed devil
4Dua: invocation/supplication
5Maghrib, Isha, Fajr
6Thuhr, Asr
أشياء جيدة 