Explanation of His saying: “A camel with a bellowing, a horse with a whinnying”

The questioner:
The Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, asks: What is the meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadith: “A camel with a bellowing, a horse with a whinnying, a sheep with a bleating, rags that flutter, and a soul with a cry”?

The Shaykh:
One thing after another. I do not think any of you is ignorant of the bellowing of a camel. Nor is any of you ignorant of the bleating of a sheep, or the lowing of a cow. Is any of you ignorant of this? You are Arabs. Eloquent Arabs. Is any of you ignorant of this? And what else?

The questioner:
A horse with a whinnying.

The Shaykh:
The whinnying of a horse, the neighing of a horse, you all know this, even the non-Arabs know this, yes.

The questioner:
Rags that flutter?

The Shaykh:
Rags, and Allah knows best, are wealth, whether clothing or other things.

The questioner:
And a soul with a cry.

The Shaykh:
A soul with a cry. It may be, and Allah knows best, that what is meant is what was mentioned before, the bleating of the sheep and the bellowing of the camel, meaning everything that has a soul and life and a voice. Or it may be that by “soul” is meant a soul that was killed unjustly, that it will come on the Day of Resurrection and retribution will be taken from it for the victim on the Day of Resurrection, and the first thing for which judgment is given between people on the Day of Resurrection is in blood matters, yes.

The questioner:
And His saying: “It will come on the Day of Resurrection on its neck, silent.”

The Shaykh:
The silent one is that which has no voice, such as gold, silver, and clothes. Yes.