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Fatwa CenterPrays but commits major sins
Question
(A) Does Allah subhanotala accepts the prayer from a person (a woman in this case) who says her salah five times a day, recites the Holy Quran and yet (1) constantly lies about each & everything thing (2) multiplies her inherited money by collecting interests from bank & yet steals money (petty or large amounts) from her in-laws (3) tries to create fights & misunderstanding between her husband, husband’s brother, sister & mother (4) takes the help of black magic (probably) to influence events in her favor (5) blackmails & threatens people using her connections in police & justice system of the country (6) assassinates character of her in-laws. And (7) verbally abuses by using intolerable foul language. (B) Is there any specific dua which might save the victims (who are genuinely practicing Muslims) from this kind of mental & financial torture? (C) How can a person pray five times a day and have the above mentioned qualities at the same time?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
It is not possible for anyone to be absolutely certain whether or not a person's prayer is accepted, as this is something of the unseen which no one knows but Allaah.
However, a Muslim is required to perform his prayer fulfilling its conditions, pillars and obligations. Moreover, one should perform his prayer with submissiveness and attentiveness. If one does so, there is no doubt that his prayer will have an effect on his behavior, in a way that his prayer will forbid him from disobeying Allaah, as Allaah Says (what means): {Verily, the prayer protects one from Al-Fahshaa' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.)…} [Quran 29:45].
Ibn Taymiyyah 
said: ''If a person performs the prayer as he is ordered to, then it will itself protect him from every kind of evil, mischief and disbelief.''
If what you mentioned about that woman is confirmed, then there is no doubt that most of these are great major sins. Lying is forbidden as it leads to vice (wickedness, evil-doing), and vice leads to Hellfire. Similarly, consuming Ribaa (interest and usury) is one of the great major sins, and the one who consumes it is threatened with a severe punishment. Likewise, magic, going to magicians and seeking their help is an act of disbelief. Insulting is an act of dissoluteness and it is not one of the characteristics of Muslims.
Harming people undeservedly is also very serious, Allaah Says (what means): {And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, bear on themselves the crime of slander and plain sin.} [Quran 33:58].
If the situation is as mentioned in the question, then that woman is obliged to sincerely repent to Allaah fulfilling the conditions of a sincere repentance which are mentioned in Fataawa 87903 and 86602.
Furthermore, whoever knows her is obliged to forbid her from committing acts of disobedience and should admonish her with wisdom and in a soft manner so that she would perform acts of obedience to Allaah.
Since she is performing the prayer and recites the Quran, then it is expected that she will do good, Allaah willing, and we hope that her prayer will prevent her from stealing, lying and other acts of disobedience, provided she performs the prayer as Allaah ordered us.
A man came to the Prophet 
and told him: ''So and so person performs night prayer but in the morning he steals.'' The Prophet replied: ''The fact that he is performing night prayer will prevent him from doing so.'' [Ahmad]. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 88745.
With regard to whether or not there is any specific supplication in order to be safe from her mischief, it is confirmed that the Prophet used to teach his companions to seek refuge from people's evil. The Prophet said: ''If you go to sleep, say: ''I take refuge in Allaah's Perfect Words from His Anger and Punishment, and from the evil of His Servants, and from the madness and the appearance of devils.'' [Ahmad].
Reciting the morning and evening mention of Allaah is also of great benefit, as well as the mention when going to and waking up from sleep. You may find these in a small booklet called ''The Fortification of the Mslim'', which it is translated into English.
Allaah knows best.
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