Explaining the Ruling on Tawassul (Seeking Nearness to Allah Through a Means) Between Shirk (Associating Partners with Allah) and Bid'ah (Religious Innovation)

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah preserve you, do you say that the questions are about something I used to believe?

Answer:
What is the means? If tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is accompanied by worship directed to the one through whom one seeks nearness, such as slaughtering for him, making vows to him, or circumambulating his grave to draw near to him, then this is shirk (associating partners with Allah), as the grave-worshippers do today. However, if his intention is merely to make the means an intermediary between him and Allah, and he does not direct any part of the worship to it—his worship is directed to Allah the Exalted and Majestic—but he makes an intermediary between him and Allah in the acceptance of his worship, in the acceptance of his acts of worship, then this is bid'ah (religious innovation). This is an innovated tawassul and does not involve shirk.