Important terminology about tawassul (توسل)

Whenever we discuss the concept of intermediation we should take into account four factors, which are interlinked:

1. Wasīlah: mediation; the means of approach.
2. Mutawassil: intermediatee; the prayee who chooses his own pious deed or a personage or a place as a source of intermediation in his prayer.
3. Mutawassal bihī: intermediary; intermediator; an object that is offered as a source of intermediation to Allah, for example, virtuous deeds, saintly personages and hallowed signs and acts associated with them.
4. Mutawassal ilayh: Allah is the Focus of all intermediation because it is submitted to Him Alone.