Is the `Iddah (waiting period) of the divorced effective from the time the divorce took place, or from the time of registering it at the court?
It is considered effective from the very moment her divorce took place, but not from the time of registering it at the court. And Allah Knows Best.
What is the ruling on a woman driving a car?
All Perfect Praise is to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessinsg be upn our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and compnions.
It is permissible for the woman to drive a car, but it is impermissible for her to travel unaccompanied by a Mahram (Unmarriageable kin). And Allah The Exalted Knows Best.
I swear that I will leave the religion of Allah if I return to smoking" and then returned to smoking. What is the ruling?
Whoever conditions disbelief on something and intends to disbelieve if it happens, he becomes a disbeliever immediately. Therefore, you must pronounce the two testimonies of faith (Shahada) and reconcile with your wife if she is in her waiting period (Iddah). It is recommended to consult the Department of Fatwa for further guidance. And Allah Knows Best.
Does Istigfar (Asking Allah for forgiveness) between the first and the second part of Friday prayer`s sermon render the prayer invalid?
Talking during Friday prayer`s sermon is disliked, but there is no harm in offering Istigfar between the two parts of the sermon, and it doesn`t invalidate the prayer as it is actually from Sunnah. And Allah Knows Best.