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 the mother who resorts to practitioners of witchcraft to make her son hate his wife?

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.

What she is doing is forbidden and amongst the seven destructive sins. Hence, she must make repentance, seek forgiveness from Allah, regret what she has done and adhere to the teachings of Sharia. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best..

Is it allowed to shave my beard to join the army taking into consideration that I can`t find a job?

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The army should be joined in preparation for Jihad (Fighting in the cause of Allah), so if Jihad contradicts with growing a beard then it is allowed to shave it. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.  

I am a doctor, and sometimes I refer patients to the hospital for surgical interventions, and they give me a commission from the fees of the surgeries, even though I do not perform these surgeries. What is the ruling?