Is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) without directing any part of worship considered minor shirk (associating partners with Allah), or is it merely a bid'ah (religious innovation)?

Question:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. The questioner, and many others, asks: Is tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) without directing any part of worship considered minor shirk (associating partners with Allah), or is it merely a bid'ah (religious innovation)?

Answer:
We have mentioned to you that tawassul (seeking nearness to Allah through a means) is of two types. The prohibited tawassul is of two types. The first type is directing some part of worship to the one through whom tawassul is sought, and this is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and this is the practice of the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (jahiliyyah). The second type is making the one through whom tawassul is sought merely a means, merely a means between you and Allah, claiming that he brings you closer to Allah only, and that Allah answers you through his means. This is a bid'ah (religious innovation). This is a bid'ah (religious innovation), and a means of shirk (associating partners with Allah) if you do not direct any part of worship to him. Yes.