Asalam o Alaikum,

I'm new to this forum and find it quite interesting.I had a alot of questions in my mind and to which i needed an answer.Some of you may find them superficial ,etc.etc but i really am confused as a muslim and am not well versed in Quran either.I have started reading it with translation but to finish it is gonna take along time & my questions cant wait till then.I hope ppl out here can help me.

1.Can men & women shake hands .is it a sin to do so or should we basically refrain.

2.Can men & women go out dancing together as long as they are friends & have no sexual motivations & their dance isnt vulgar either.Is it haraam to dance infront of non mahram.

3.As far as the hadith's go ,ppl usually use the argument that if it werent for the hadiths we wouldnt know how to pray & this is where i get confused.Any answers?

4.Is it haraam in Islam to celebrate one's birthday.I have heard that this was a practise disliked by the Prophet Muhammed as it symbolises the waning of one more year of one's life.also that when we die we will laugh in our graves regarding our being happy on the ending of a particular year.

5.What is the actual meaning of the word khimar or khomorooheena in the actual verses of arabic.Secondly ,I have heard that if a women doesnt cover her hair infront of non mahram then she will be cursed & tht her head will be smashed constantly in hell?

6.If we draw portraits of people,is that haraam & will we be told on the day of judgement to bring life to these sketches etc.

7.Is it true that a person cannot pray for 40 days after they have consumed alcohol?

8.Is it haraam in islam to go to places where alcohol is being sold even if the intentions are correct.For e.g. if i go to a concert with the purpose of enjoying music & jus plain having good fun but on the other side alcohol is being sold ,will i incur a sin .I agree that we should refrain but what if the purpose is as stated above?

8.Are some musical instruments such as the drums, flute haraam in islam?

9.Can men & women stand next to each other in a mosque & pray?

10.Is it haraam for a women to lead a congregational prayer?

11.During one of the religious discussions by Dr Zakir Naik ,he said that it is preferable for a women not to become the head of a state ..Is all this true?

12.Can a women pray,fast or hold & read the Quran during her menses.I read on submmission.org that she can but how is that possible as the menses blood is impure?

13.Should we sit down & drink water n if not is it a sin?

14.It it haraam for a women to cut her hair ?

Well thats all for the moment.I cant seem to remember anymore but I'd really appreciate some answers.
yalla take care

Allah hafiz