
Several Facebook posts have recently circulated claiming that the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem has come under attack and has been “soaked in blood.” These posts are accompanied by manipulated images purporting to show damage to the Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock, a structure located within the same compound. Such visuals may lead viewers to assume that either Al-Aqsa Mosque or the Dome of the Rock has suffered a recent assault or sustained damage. However, none of these claims are substantiated. While the Israeli Air Force has intensified strikes over the Gaza Strip in recent days, there have been no reports of any attacks targeting structures in or around the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
Origin of the Rumor
One of the Facebook posts spreading this misinformation was made by ATM Mohiuddin Tara. He wrote, “This is the mosque where the reward of one rak’ah of prayer is equivalent to 500 rak’ahs.”
Investigation
The image attached to ATM Mohiuddin Tara’s post depicts the Dome of the Rock—also known as Qubbat As-Sakhrah—in a partially destroyed state. Part of the iconic golden dome appears to be broken, and both the front wall and supporting pillars seem visibly damaged. Artificial intelligence detection tools have confirmed that the image was generated using AI and is not authentic.
Symbolic Significance
This is the first qibla of the Muslims. This is the sacred land from which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) ascended to the heavens during the Isra and Mi'raj. It is the same mosque where Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) engaged the jinn to labor under divine command. The very stones here chant the name of God, and the air carries the scent of faith. And today, this mosque is said to be soaked in blood.
Verification
Upon further examination of ATM Mohiuddin Tara’s post, the attached image again shows the Dome of the Rock in a supposedly damaged state. A portion of the golden dome appears to be broken, with visible damage to walls and pillars at the front. However, AI detection tools confirm the image is artificial and not real. Regular live broadcasts of the adhan, prayers, and Friday sermons from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on various YouTube channels provide ongoing visual updates. A review of these live videos reveals no signs of recent attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque (also known as the Qibli Mosque) or the Dome of the Rock.
Israel began a new round of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip starting March 18. Despite the escalation, there have been no media reports of attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem. Notably, Gaza is approximately 86 kilometers away from Jerusalem.
It is also important to distinguish between the structures within the compound: the Al-Aqsa Mosque with its silver dome, also known as the Qibli Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock, which features a golden dome. Many people refer to the entire compound as the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Since there has been no attack on any part of the mosque compound in recent times, the claims spreading on Facebook have been classified as false by FactCheck.
Original News Source: https://www.fact-watch.org/al_aqsa_is_not_destroyed/