• What is the ruling in Islam on castrating animals to use them for work?
All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
This isn`t permissible because the Fuqaha (Jurists/scholars) said: "It is permissible to castrate the animal if it is eaten and this procedure is done at early age." And Allah the Almighty knows best.
• What`s the ruling on using the following materials in manufacturing cosmetics: olive oil, Vaseline, talc powder, glycerin, honey, almond oil, pine oil, galingale and marjoram?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
None of the above materials is forbidden, and it`s lawful to use them in manufacturing products that are beneficial to people. This is because, in principle, all things are lawful so long as there is no evidence in Sharia indicating otherwise. And Allah Knows Best.
• Is Iddah (waiting period) incumbent on an old lady whose husband had died?
Upon the death of the husband, Iddah is incumbent on the wife regardless of her age.
• Does touching women temporarily forbidden in marriage nullify ablution ?
It is prohibited to touch, or to shake hands with such women as they are considered strangers, and doing so nullifies ablution.