What is the ruling on a person who is compelled to study remaining in a house where he sees women unintentionally?

It is forbidden for a man to be alone with a non-mahram (definition) woman, even if the seclusion is for an act of worship, due to the potential for corruption and the presence of Satan. Authentic prophetic hadiths have been reported prohibiting this, among them: "Beware of entering upon women," and "No man is alone with a woman except with a mahram, for verily Satan is the third of them."

Even more deserving of prohibition is a non-mahram man residing with women. Shared living arrangements are forbidden even with the presence of a mahram if the space is not large enough to ensure that neither party can observe the other.

If the man's dwelling is separate from the women's dwelling, even if adjacent, there is no objection, provided that facilities such as the kitchen or bathroom are not shared. If the facilities are shared, then cohabitation becomes forbidden.

If a person is forced to reside in such a situation, he must separate his living quarters as mentioned, or seek another residence. He should not enter the house except in the presence of mahrams, and he must avert his gaze if he suddenly sees a woman.