Is seeking intermediaries between Allah and His creation considered shirk (associating partners with Allah)?

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. I understood from this lesson that if a person supplicates to a dead person, it is shirk (associating partners with Allah), and if he seeks their intercession, it is a means to shirk. So, is seeking intermediaries between Allah and His creation not considered major shirk?

Answer:
It is a means to shirk, and a means to shirk. If any part of worship is directed to the intermediary, as the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) do, this is major shirk. If he slaughters an animal for him, or makes a vow for the dead person, or for the Prophet, or for anyone else, and does any act of worship for him, this is major shirk. They worship them other than the dead and say, "They are intercessors." So, if he directs any part of worship to the intermediary, this is major shirk. But if he does not direct any part of worship to it, and only seeks the intercession, then this is bid'ah (religious innovation) and a means to shirk.