"And when We decide to destroy a town (population), We (first) send a definite order (to obey Allāh and be righteous) to those among them [or We (first) increase in number those of its population] who lead a life of luxury. Then they transgress therein..." (V.17:16)
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَنْصُورٌ، عَنْ أَبِي وَائِلٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنَّا نَقُولُ لِلْحَىِّ إِذَا كَثُرُوا فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ أَمِرَ بَنُو فُلاَنٍ. حَدَّثَنَا الْحُمَيْدِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ وَقَالَ أَمِرَ.
Narrated `Abdullah: During the Pre-lslamic period of ignorance if any tribe became great in number, we used to say, "Amira the children of so-and-so." Narrated Al-Humaidi: Sufyan narrated to us something and used the word 'Amira'.