Rosen-Ayalon (2006:72) suggested that renovations to the White Mosque at Ramla in the third building phase were undertaken in response to structural damage caused by the earthquake of 1033 CE. This third-phase construction occurred in 1190 CE and is attributed to Salah al-Din. A chronological problem arises, however, in that approximately 157 years elapsed between the proposed damage and the documented restoration.

Textual sources indicate that Ramla also suffered damage during the earthquake of 1068 CE, experienced several military engagements during the eleventh century CE — including an attack by Turkish elements of the Fatimid army in 1067 CE — and later became the scene of multiple conflicts between Crusader and Islamic forces beginning in 1099 CE. The Crusaders held Ramla more or less continuously from 1099 CE until it was finally relinquished to Salah al-Din and the Ayyubids in 1187 CE. Thus, the 157-year time lapse appears to be the result of prolonged political turmoil and the progressive build-up of damage to the mosque over this interval.

Rosen-Ayalon (2006:72) further noted that the traveller Nasir-i Khusrau visited Palestine approximately fourteen years after the earthquake of 1033 CE and lamented the condition of Ramla, which he described as devastated by the early eleventh-century earthquake. He also recorded an inscription above the soffèh of the “great mosque,” a designation that appears to refer to the White Mosque.

In a French translation of the Sefer Nema by Nasir-i Khusrau, it is reported that the inscription stated that on Muharram 15, 425 (11 December 1033), “a violent earthquake overthrew a large number of buildings but none of the inhabitants were injured.” While the inscription does not explicitly mention damage to the White Mosque, later authors do report such damage.

Ibn al-Jawzi wrote that the 1033 CE earthquake “knocked down the great mosque,” and as-Suyūṭī cited Ibn al-Jawzi when he stated that the “mosque was literally torn apart” by this same earthquake. Taken together, this evidence strongly suggests that the third building phase undertaken by Salah al-Din was, at least in part, a response to damage incurred in 1033 CE.