Hiding your Madhab

Question:

Assalamu Alaykum. Due to some difficulties, I stay at my grandmother's house. The phone I use was bought by my mother or my uncle. They bear all phone costs including internet usage and talk costs. 

Let's go to the main topic. I attach great importance to Madhhab in following the rules of Islam. But, my uncle is a supporter of Ahl al-Hadith ideology. He doesn’t care about Madhhab in the slightest. If I want to convince him something about this far from understanding, he start shouting excitedly. I use some apps which are guided by Hanafi Madhhab. My uncle will come to this house permanently, inshaallah. If he feels like following my Madhhab, he can create chaos. So, in this case I want to adopt a strategy. And that is - keep those apps uninstalled when uncle is present at home and reinstall those and use when he's absent. Would such an act constitute deception?

Answer:

In the name of Allah the most Gracious the most Merciful 

Wa alaikum Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, 

Following a Madhab (School of thought) is part of the practices of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah. It is necessary that one adheres to one of the 4 Madhahibs; Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki and Hanbali. Those who reject this have followed an erroneous path. 

Regarding your specific circumstance, your effort to follow the correct path is commendable, may Allah grant you steadfastness upon it. 

Our Deen promotes peace and harmony between family members, so if you feel like these specific apps will cause argumentation and dispute with your uncle, it will not be considered deception to delete them while he's around. 

The Sahabah themselves used to hide their faith around the disbelievers of Makkah.

If you feel like there's even a small chance that your Uncle can change his views, talk to him about this or have him listen to authentic Ulama. But if he's staunch in his views, keep to yourself and stay true to the ways of Ahulus Sunnah yourself.

Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'an: 

يا ايها الذين آمنوا عليكم انفسكم

"O you who have believed, take care of yourselves first."

And Allah knows best 

Mufti Umer Farooq Saleem