Shirk-based and pre-Islamic tawassul and its examples.

The Shaykh : Now, as for the tawassul of the mushrikin (those who associate partners with Allah) through their idols and statues, and the tawassul of the ignorant through their awliya (close friends of Allah), that is shirk-based tawassul. We do not call it bid'ah-based (innovation-based) tawassul, but rather it is shirk-based tawassul. It is not correct to call it tawassul; rather, it is pure shirk (associating partners with Allah), because these people who seek tawassul call upon those they claim are a means.