Allah states that most people do not think about His signs and proofs of His Oneness that He created in the heavens and earth. Allah created brilliant stars and rotating heavenly objects and planets, all made subservient. There are many plots of fertile land next to each other on earth, and gardens, solid mountains, lively oceans, with their waves smashing against each other, and spacious deserts. There are many live creatures and others that have died; and animals, plants and fruits that are similar in shape, but different in taste, scent, color and attributes. All praise is due to Allah the One and Only, Who created all types of creations, Who Alone will remain and last forever. It is He Who is unique in His Names and Attributes.
Allah said next,
{And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him.}

Ibn 'Abbas commented, "They have a part of faith, for when they are asked, 'Who created the heavens? Who created the earth? Who created the mountains?' They say, 'Allah did.' Yet, they associate others with Him in worship." Similar is said by Mujahid, 'Ata, 'Ikrimah, Ash-Sha'bi, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam. In the Sahih, it is recorded that during the Hajj season, the idolaters used to say in their Talbiyah: "Here we rush to Your service. You have no partners with You, except a partner with You whom You own but he owns not!" Allah said in another Ayah,
{Verily, joining others in worship with Allah is a great Zulm (wrong) indeed.} [31:13]
This indeed is the greatest type of Shirk, associating others with Allah in worship. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said, "I said, 'O Allah's Messenger! What is the greatest sin?' He said,
'That you call a rival to Allah while He alone created you.'"
Al-Hasan Al-Basri commented on Allah's statement,
{And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him.}

"This is the hypocrite; if he performs good deeds, he does so to show off with the people, and he is an idolator while doing this." Al-Hasan was referring to Allah's statement,
{Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up for As-Salah, they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little.} [4:142]
There is another type of hidden Shirk that most people are unaware of. Hammad bin Salamah narrated that 'Asim bin Abi An-Najud said that 'Urwah said, "Hudhayfah visited an ill man and saw a rope tied around his arm, so he ripped it off while reciting,
{And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners unto Him.}"
In a Hadith, from Ibn 'Umar collected by At-Tirmidhi who said it was Hasan, the Prophet said,
"He who swears by other than Allah, commits Shirk."
Imam Ahmad, Abu Dawud and other scholars of Hadith narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said that the Messenger of Allah said,
"Verily, Ar-Ruqa, At-Tama'im and At-Tiwalah are all acts of Shirk."
In another narration collected by Ahmad and Abu Dawud, the Prophet said,
"Verily, At-Tiyarah [omen] is Shirk; everyone might feel a glimpse of it, but Allah dissipates it with Tawakkul."
Allah said next,
{Do they then feel secure from the coming against them of the covering veil of the torment of Allah?}

Allah asks, 'Do these idolaters who associate others with Allah in the worship, feel secure from the coming of an encompassing torment from where they perceive not?' Allah said in other Ayat,
{Do then those who devise evil plots feel secure that Allah will not sink them into the earth, or that the torment will not seize them from directions they perceive not? Or that He may catch them in the midst of their going to and from, so that there be no escape for them (from Allah's punishment)? Or that He may catch them with gradual toasting (of their wealth and health)? Truly, Your Lord is indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.} [16:45-47]
and,
{Did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment by night while they were asleep? Or, did the people of the towns then feel secure against the coming of Our punishment in the forenoon while they were playing? Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah? None feels secure from the plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.} [7:97-99]