Ibn al-Qalanisi wrote that on 12 August 1157 CE, “a very violent earthquake, the like of which had never occurred before, occurred at Damascus,” with shocks continuing for a long time. He added that people fled houses, shops, and covered markets, fearing for their lives. The shocks, according to al-Qalanisi, “affected many parts of Damascus, and caused the mosque of Damascus to fall, together with such a large quantity of mosaics and marble plaques.” He reported further shocks over the following days. On 16 August 1157 CE, al-Qalanisi wrote that “an awful earthquake occurred which sowed terror among the people.” This was followed by many more shocks over the next several days.

as-Suyūṭī provided a nearly identical account, almost certainly using Ibn al-Qalanisi as his source. He recorded that on 12 August 1157 CE, “a very violent earthquake, the like of which had never occurred before, occurred at Damascus,” with shocks continuing for a long time. He noted that people fled houses, shops, and covered markets, fearing for their lives. The shocks, according to as-Suyūṭī, “affected many parts of Damascus, and caused the mosque of Damascus to fall, together with such a large quantity of mosaics and marble plaques.” He also reported additional shocks over the following days. On 16 August 1157 CE, as-Suyūṭī wrote of another shock, “an awful earthquake” that “sowed terror among the people.” Many more shocks followed in the succeeding days.

Ibn Taghri Birdi reported that in August 1157 CE, according to Ibn al-Athir, violent earthquakes took place in Damascus and other parts of Syria. However, no damage was described in Damascus, and no injuries or fatalities were mentioned. Damascus is also not listed among the cities affected in the extant versions of Ibn al-Athir.