What is the interpretation of the verse: "And most of them do not believe in Allah except while they associate others with Him," and does a believer have acts of shirk for which he will be punished?

The verse states: (And most of them do not believe in Allah except while associating partners with Him). This indicates that most of those whom the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, invited to faith did not believe in Allah except while associating idols and false deities with Him. Three interpretations have been reported regarding the meaning of "most of them" in the verse: 1. The polytheists who believed that Allah was their Creator and Sustainer, but associated partners with Him. Or, it was revealed concerning the talbiyah (chant) of the Arab polytheists. 2. The Christians who believed that Allah was their Creator and Sustainer, but associated partners with Him. 3. The hypocrites who outwardly claimed faith out of hypocrisy, while inwardly being polytheists.

The verse was revealed concerning major shirk (polytheism) and does not include believers. However, a believer may fall into minor shirk, such as showing off (riya') or swearing by other than Allah. This minor shirk, according to some scholars, is not forgiven due to the general implication of Allah's saying: "Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him," yet its perpetrator will not abide eternally in Hell.