Some of our ancestors died while holding beliefs of shirk (associating partners with Allah) out of ignorance; are they excused, and should we seek forgiveness for them?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. He says: Some of our ancestors died, and we know that they held certain beliefs regarding the awliya (close friends of Allah) and the righteous, including supplication to other than Allah and tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) through the awliya. He asks: Are they excused due to their ignorance, and are we permitted to seek forgiveness for them?

Answer:
Stop seeking forgiveness for them. As for whether they are excused due to their ignorance, I do not know about their state. Did they have any scholars among them? Did they hear the prohibition of that, or did they not hear it? So, verify this matter. We stop, but regarding the issue of seeking forgiveness for them, do not seek forgiveness for them. Yes.