And the Usāmah ibn Zayd meant here is al-Laythī; his reports are considered ḥasan, and with this strong corroboration the tradition is sound—praise be to Allah.

The fourth authority is Mujāhid, likewise.

Ibn Abī Shaybah recorded it under numbers 1167 and 1179, as did Ibn Jarīr, Ibn Abī al-Dunyā 4 / 1 and 5 / 2 through several chains from him—some of them authentic—and Abū Nuʿaym in al-Ḥilyah 3 / 286.

In one version cited by Ibn Jarīr, transmitted through Ibn Jurayj who said, “I heard it from Mujāhid,” he explained: “al-lahw (idle talk) is the drum.”

All the transmitters are trustworthy, so the chain is sound—provided that Ibn Jurayj actually heard it from Mujāhid.

There is also a report in the same section from al-Ḥasan al-Baṣrī: “This verse—‘And among mankind…’ etc.—was revealed about singing and flutes.”

Al-Suyūṭī attributed it in al-Durr al-Manthūr 5 / 159 to Ibn Abī Ḥātim and, as is his habit, offered no further comment. I have not yet located its isnād to investigate it.

For this reason al-Wāḥidī said in his Wasīṭ 3 / 441: “Most exegetes hold that what is meant by lahw al-ḥadīth (idle talk) is singing.” The linguists add: “This includes everyone who prefers diversion, singing, flutes, and musical instruments to the Quran.”