Is it permissible for us to sever ties of kinship if our blood-relatives` gatherings involve acts of sin?
Maintaining kinship ties is mandatory, thus if visiting your blood-relatives hinders their sinful acts , then you should do so. However, if their sinful acts persist while you are at their gathering, then it is sufficient that you maintain kinship ties via telephone and the like. And Allah Knows
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 woman to go out wearing bright colors?
Bright colors are part of a woman`s adornment, and it is impermissible for her to show it to people other than her husband, or one of her Mahrams (Unmarriageable kin).
Is it permissible for a woman who is in her `Iddah (waiting period) due to the death of her husband to go out and mix with non-Mahrams (Marriageable men)?
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.
A woman in such a situation is only allowed to leave her house for a sound reason such as visiting the doctor, and she is only allowed to mix with her Mahrams (Non-Marriageable kin) since it is permissible for a woman, whether in her `Iddah, or not, to mix with her husband and Mahrams. However, she is allowed to accept condolences, and answer inquiries about her situation after such a calamity. And Allah Knows Best.