The Shaykh of Islam sometimes describes tawassul as a bid'ah (religious innovation), sometimes as a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah), and sometimes as shirk!

Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The Shaykh of Islam (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned tawassul in his book *Tawassul wa al-Wasilah*. In one place he said it is a bid'ah, in another place he said it is a means to shirk, and in a third place he said it is shirk. His question is: Are these statements from him (may Allah have mercy on him)?

Answer:
I have clarified this for you. I said: If tawassul is accompanied by worship of the one through whom tawassul is made, such as slaughtering for him, making vows to him, or calling upon him for aid, then it is shirk; it is shirk-based tawassul. As for tawassul that is not accompanied by worship of the one through whom tawassul is made, it is considered a bid'ah and a means to shirk. Yes.