This excerpt is taken from Sheikh al-Islam Imam Ibn Taymiyyah's book Al-Jawab al-Bahir fi Zuwar al-Maqabir, translated by Sheikh Ataullah Saqib.
The meaning of Wasilah is to perform deeds that are pleasing to Allah
That is, if you do not call upon Him in the manner He has commanded, to obey Him, worship Him, and follow His messengers, then He will not even care about you. It is as if action itself is the means which the Lord Almighty has commanded, saying:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَابْتَغُوا إِلَيْهِ الْوَسِيلَةَ
"O you who have believed, fear Allah and seek the means [of nearness] to Him."
Reference: (5-Al-Ma'idah:35)
Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Mujahid, Ata, and Afra (may Allah be pleased with them) have written that the means refers to nearness. Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) says: "By performing the deeds that Allah is pleased with, seek nearness to Him."
Abu Ubaid (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
توسلت اليه means to draw near. That is, I tried to attain His nearness.
The statement of Abdul Rahman bin Zaid is that:
تحب اور تقرب الي الله has only one form, and that is to obey His Messenger, Allah's blessings and peace be upon him.
