Following the Sunnah leads a person towards shirk, because Allah Almighty says:
( إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ )
Translation: Indeed, the right to judge belongs only to Allah.
First Point
Allah Almighty swears by His blessed Self and says:
فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّى يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَجِدُوا فِي أَنْفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa:65)
Translation: No! By your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.
And He says:
إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَنْ يَقُولُوا سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
Reference: (Surah An-Nur:51)
Translation: The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely. And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger to judge between them, they do not differ except for those who disbelieve. And the word of those who disbelieve is ever [that] they say, "We hear and we disobey." And those are the ones who are defiantly disobedient.
The first verse explains that a person has not truly tasted the sweetness of faith who is not pleased with the command of the Prophet ﷺ, and the second verse describes the manner of the believers, that the believers are indeed those who bow their heads in submission to the command of Allah and His Messenger ﷺ, which makes it clear that obeying the command of the Prophet ﷺ is in fact obedience to Allah and true monotheism, not associating partners in Allah’s command.
And if it were shirk (associating partners), then how could Allah command it?
Second Point
At the three places in the Holy Quran where the mentioned verse appears, the context of these verses clearly shows that they command being pleased with the decisions of divine decree, and Allah alone is unique in these decisions and has no partner. Therefore, it is not possible to use the mentioned part of the verse as evidence for that claim in any way.
Third Point
Allah Almighty has appointed some among His creation as judges in certain matters, as in the case of disputes between husband and wife, Allah Almighty says:
وَإِنْ خِفْتُمْ شِقَاقَ بَيْنِهِمَا فَابْعَثُوا حَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَحَكَمًا مِنْ أَهْلِهَا إِنْ يُرِيدَا إِصْلَاحًا يُوَفِّقِ اللَّهُ بَيْنَهُمَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلِيمًا خَبِيرًا
Reference: (Surah An-Nisa:35)
Translation: And if you fear dissension between the two, appoint an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted.
Similarly, regarding hunting within the sacred limits, Allah Almighty says:
…وَمَنْ قَتَلَهُ مِنْكُمْ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاءٌ مِثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ النَّعَمِ يَحْكُمُ بِهِ ذَوَا عَدْلٍ مِنْكُمْ…
Reference: (Surah Al-Ma'idah:95)
Translation: And whoever kills a soul intentionally, the recompense is an equivalent from livestock, as judged by two just men among you.
So, when in the presence of the Quran, decisions can be made by certain individuals, the position of Prophethood is more deserving that decisions be made by you, and the possible form of this decision after your ﷺ passing is the implementation of your Sunnah.
