What is the ruling on reciting the seeking of refuge and the basmalah aloud in prayer?

Question:
Their letter is long, but it revolves around the phrase: "I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." He discusses it and asks: What is your opinion on reciting it aloud during prayer? Is it obligatory or not? Please guide us on this matter. May Allah reward you with good. The recommended practice (sunnah) regarding the seeking of refuge and the basmalah is to recite them quietly in prayer.

Answer:
Yes. Reciting them quietly in prayer is the practice. One seeks refuge in Allah from the Shaytan quietly, and likewise says "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" before the recitation quietly, because the hadiths indicate that, as in the hadith which indicates that they used to recite the basmalah quietly and not aloud. This is the sunnah. And if one recites the basmalah aloud at times, yes, there is no harm in that. Praise be to Allah.