Shammam, from Abu Harun al-Makfuf, from Maitham al-Tammar, from Sa'd al-Khaffaf, from Al-Asbagh ibn Nubatah, who said:

A group of people came to the Commander of the Faithful, Mighty is His Might, and said to him: "Al-Mu'tamid claims that you say this Eel (Al-Jirri) is a transformed being (maskh)."

He said: "Stay where you are until I come out to you." He took his garment, went out with them, and proceeded until he reached the Euphrates in Kufa. He called out: "O Eel!" It replied: "At your service, at your service (Labbayk, Labbayk)."

He said: "Who am I?" It replied: "You are the Commander of the Faithful."

The Commander of the Faithful, Mighty is His Might, said to it: "Then who are you?"

It replied: "I am among those to whom your Loyalty (Wilayah) was offered, but I denied it and did not accept it; thus, I was transformed into an eel. And some of those who are with you [now] shall be transformed into eels."