عَنْ اَبِي عَبْدِ اللهِؑ قَالَ مَنْ اَشْرَكَ مَعَ اِمَامٍ اِمَامَتُهُ مِنْ عِنْدِ اللهِ مَنْ لَيْسَتْ اِمَامَتُهُ مِنَ اللهِ كَانَ مُشْرِكاً بِاللهِ
Imam Sadeq (peace be upon him) said,
“Whoever associates with an Imam whose Imamate is from Allah an Imam whose Imamate is not from Allah is a polytheist (i.e. has ascribed a partner with Allah).”
Note:
There is no difference if a person associates an idol with Allah OR associates an ordinary man with a divinely appointed Imam.
References:
1. Al-Kaafi, vol. 1, p. 373, H. 6;
2. Al-Ghaibah of al-Nomani (r.a.), p. 130, Chapter 7, H. 8
3. Behaar al-Anwaar, vol. 23, p. 78, H. 11