The Doomed are preoccupied with Idle Talk and They turn away from the Ayat of Allah
Allah says;
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
And of mankind is he who purchases idle talk (Lahw Al-Hadith) to mislead from the path of Allah without knowledge,
When Allah mentions the blessed -- who are those who are guided by the Book of Allah and benefit from hearing it, as He says;
اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَـباً مُّتَشَـبِهاً مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
Allah has sent down the Best Statement, a Book, its parts resembling each other (and) oft-repeated. The skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it. Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah. (39;23)
He connect that with mention of the doomed, those who turn away from the Qur'an and do not benefit from hearing the Words of Allah. Instead, they turn to listening to flutes and singing accompanied by musical instruments. As Ibn Mas`ud commented about the Ayah;
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ
And of mankind is he who purchases Lahu Al-Hadith to mislead (men) from the path of Allah,
he said, "This -- by Allah -- refers to singing."
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيثِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ
And of mankind is he who purchases Lahw Al-Hadith to mislead (men) from the path of Allah without knowledge,
Qatadah said;
"By Allah, he may not spend money on it, but his purchasing it means he likes it, and the more misguided he is, the more he likes it and the more he prefers falsehood to the truth and harmful things over beneficial things."
It was said that what is meant by the words
يَشْتَرِي لَهْوَ الْحَدِيث
(purchases idle talks) is buying singing servant girls.
Ibn Jarir said that it means all speech that hinders people from seeing the signs of Allah and following His path.
His saying;
لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّه
(to mislead (men) from the path of Allah) means,
he does this to oppose Islam and its followers.
وَيَتَّخِذَهَا هُزُوًا
and takes it by way of mockery.
Mujahid said,
"This means mocking the path of Allah and making fun of it."
أُولَيِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ
For such there will be a humiliating torment.
Just as they showed no respect to the signs and path of Allah, so they will be shown no respect on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be subjected to a painful, ongoing torment.
Then Allah says