What is the ruling on having brotherly ties between a strange man and a strange woman, and is the former considered a Mahram (unmarriageable) to the latter?
Such a relation between a strange man and a strange woman is forbidden in Islam because it involves forbidding what Allah has allowed by marriage, and allowing what Allah has forbidden such as looking and the like. Such a relation doesn`t render any act lawful between them, thus they are forbidden to look at each other, have a Khulwah (seclusion), and travel together.
Is it permissible for a wife to leave her house without asking her husband?
It is impermissible for the wife to leave her house without asking her husband except for a sound reason.
Is a woman`s neck an Awrah (private part)?
All Perfect Praise is due to The Lord of The Worlds.
It is an Awrah, and it is forbidden for her to reveal it before non-Mahrams (Marriageable men). And Allah Knows Best.
What is the ruling on working for a company that manufactures cigarettes?
All Perfect Praise is due to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds
Working for a company that manufactures cigarettes is forbidden because smoking itself is forbidden, so its production, selling and circulation are forbidden as a result since they aid in committing sin, and whoever aids in that is like the sinner himself. And Allah Knows Best.