What is the ruling on attachment to other than Allah, and is forgiveness and shaking hands with those who have wronged one a sign of weakness or humiliation?

Attachment of the heart to other than Allah corrupts it and leads its owner to sins. It is the greatest corruptor of the heart, bar none. Ibn al-Qayyim explained that whoever attaches himself to other than Allah, Allah entrusts him to that to which he attached himself and abandons him. So, he neither attains his share from Allah nor reaches what he hoped for from that to which he attached himself. He clarified that the roots of all sins are three: the heart's attachment to other than Allah, obedience to the power of anger, and obedience to the power of desire.

Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen classified the categories of attachment to other than Allah into three: that which negates Tawheed fundamentally (major shirk), that which negates the perfection of Tawheed (minor shirk), and that which does not negate Tawheed at all if the primary reliance is on Allah.

As for beautiful forgiveness and noble pardon, it is a virtuous status stemming from good character and the desire for Allah's reward, and it is not weakness or humiliation. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Allah does not increase a servant in anything due to forgiveness except honor."