The ruling on one who prioritizes the statement of his Shaykh and Imam over the Book and the Sunnah

The questioner : Yes. As for those who prioritize the statements of their Imams over the explicit Sunnah, to the point where one of them says, "If it contradicts the Hadith, then it is either abrogated or misinterpreted," is this considered shirk (associating partners with Allah)?

The Shaykh : Yes, there is no doubt. That is, whoever prioritizes the statement of anyone other than Allah and His Messenger over the statement of Allah and His Messenger is a mushrik (one who associates partners with Allah) without doubt. However, it may be major shirk or minor shirk. One may be excused by ta'wil (figurative interpretation), saying, "I do not prioritize this man's statement over the statement of Allah and His Messenger, but I consider myself ignorant, and this Imam has knowledge that I do not have. Perhaps the meaning of the Hadith is not this, or the meaning of the Ayah is not this, or perhaps the Ayah is specific, or the Hadith is abrogated." But if he says, "No, this Hadith clearly indicates such and such, but the Shaykh's statement takes precedence over it," that is kufr (disbelief), and there is no ambiguity in that.