If every student spends the night alone in his own room in the university dormitory, does this fall under the prohibition of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) against a man spending the night alone?

The questioner : All right, Shaykh, regarding the hadith of prohibition: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited a man from spending the night alone and traveling alone. If a group of students are in a university dormitory, with each person in his own room, does this fall under the prohibition or not?

The Shaykh : It falls under the prohibition if he has a family. But if he does not have a family, what can he do? He is not burdened with what he cannot do. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity. Every legal ruling is contingent upon ability. For example, a man who has a wife should not sleep away from her, and she should not sleep away from him, is that clear?

The questioner : Is that clear?

The Shaykh : As for the case you described, a student of knowledge who has a private room, and another student likewise, if the school system is such that every student sleeps in his own room, and perhaps some moral problems might occur if there is no mahram relationship between them.