Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 36984 — The words of Sulayman bin Dawud

Khaythamah said: The Angel of Death came to Sulayman bin Dawud (peace be upon them both), and he (peace be upon him) was on terms of friendship with him. He said to him: "You are strange! You come to one house and take the souls of all its household, yet you leave (safe and sound) the household (of the house) beside them, not taking the soul of even one of them. (What is this about?)" The Angel of Death replied: "I do not know whose soul I am to take. I am simply (standing with hands folded) beneath the Throne, and a slip is dropped towards me with names written on it (of the people whose souls I am to take)."