Is it permissible for a woman who is observing `Iddah (waiting period) due to the death of her husband to travel for performing Umrah (Minor Hajj)?
A woman observing `Iddah of a revocable (Rajee`) divorce isn`t allowed to travel for Umrah except with the consent of her husband.
Is it permissible to offer mandatory prayer while sitting?
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. Standing up is a pillar in the mandatory prayer and the prayer is not valid without it unless one cannot do it. As for Nafila (supererogatory prayer), one can perform it in the state of sitting even if he/she can stand, but his/her reward is half the reward of the person who prays while standing if he/sh has no legal excuse for such an act. And Allah Knows Best.
A woman went for Hajj while pregnant, gave birth after leaving Arafat, and was unable to perform the Tawaf Al-Ifadah. If she cannot stay until she becomes pure from postpartum bleeding (Nifas) and she is from a distant country, what is she liable for?
This woman is advised to leave Mecca in a state of Ihram if the caravan departs. Once she reaches a distance where returning to Mecca is not feasible, she should consider herself in a state of being prevented (Muhsar). She may then exit Ihram, and she is required to offer a sacrificial animal (Blood) at that location. Additionally, she must perform a compensatory Hajj at the earliest possible opportunity. And Allah Almighty Knows Best.
Is it permissible for the guardian, or the father of the child to hit the latter in order to teach him/her good manners?
It is permissible for the guardian to hit his/her child for teaching them good manners once they become ten years old provided that it is done mildly, harmlessly and without intimidation. Actually, such punishment is to be employed gradually i.e. after: asking, warning, and scolding. As for the teacher, he isn`t allowed to hit the student unless the latter`s father approves of it, and it is done according to necessity without intimidation, or harm.