Abu Hamza Thumali has narrated that one day Abdullah bin Umar approached Imam Zainul Aabedeen (a.s.) and said, “You say that “My grandfather Ali (a.s.)’s Wilayat was presented to Yunus (a.s.) but he was reluctant so Allah dropped him in the belly of a fish.” Imam (a.s.) said, No doubt. I did say so. May your mother sit in mourning for you.” Abdullah said, “If what you say is true, then show me some sign supporting it.” (Abu Hamza says:) Imam (a.s.) put a band on his (Abdullah’s) and my eyes and after a few moments asked us to open the bands. When we untied the bands what we had a vision was that we were on a seashore. Its waves were rising high. Abdullah bin Umar said, “O my leader! My blood (responsibility of my death) will be upon you.” Yunus (a.s.) said, “Do not become restless. I want to show you the sign of my truthfulness.” Then he called upon the fish.
A giant fish like a big mountain raised its head out of water saying: “Labbaik Labbaik, O Wali of Allah!” Imam (a.s.) asked it: “Who are you?” It replied, “I am the fish of Yunus (a.s.).” Imam (a.s.) said, “Narrate the story of Yunus (a.s.) to us.” It said, O my leader! Right from Adam (a.s.) upto your grandfather Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) Allah had not appointed any Prophet to whom the Wilayat of you, Ahle Bait was not presented. The one who accepted it remained protected and the one who denied it was involved in trouble until Allah sent Yunus (a.s.) with His Message and asked him through revelation to accept the Wilayat of Amirul Mo-mineen Ali (a.s.) and thereafter of the rightly-guided Imams born of Ali (a.s.)’s lineage along with other matters revealed to him. Yunus (a.s.) said, How can I accept the Wilayat of those whom I have not yet seen nor know! Then he came to the shore of the sea. Allah revealed to me to swallow him but without damaging his bones. Yunus (a.s.) remained in my belly for forty days. I ferried him in rivers and oceans and darkness and he was crying: laa illaah anta subhaanaka innee kuntu minaz zaalimeen (and continued to pray to Allah Almighty) that I have accepted the Wilayat of Amirul Mo-mineen and of the rightly guided Imams from his progeny. When he put faith on the Wilayat of you gentlemen, Allah ordered me to throw Yunus (a.s.) out so I disgorged him on the shore. Hearing this Imam (a.s.) said, “O fish! Go back to your abode.” So it went away. The waves settled down and the water became calm.