Does replacing the ruling of Allah with man-made laws constitute preferring them over the Shari'ah of Allah?

Question:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: Does replacing the ruling of Allah the Exalted with man-made laws constitute preferring those laws over the Shari'ah of Allah the Exalted?

Answer:
Yes. If he believes that it is permissible, or that the ruling of Allah and the ruling of the law are equal and he has a choice, or that the law is better, then he is a disbeliever in all these cases. However, if he believes that the ruling of Allah is obligatory and that the ruling of the law is invalid, but he rules by it out of greed or a desire in his soul, then he is a sinner. This is a disbeliever who commits minor shirk (associating partners with Allah) and a sinner, and he must repent to Allah, Mighty and Majestic. As for the first type, it is major shirk (associating partners with Allah) that takes one out of the religion. Yes.