The Arabian genealogists and historians trace their lineage to a man named 'Amir ibn Aslam who was given the title Dhu Yazan and was a contemporary of the Himyarite ruler Abu Karib, although the Dhu Yazan clan has existed way back during the time of Dhamar Ali Yahbur.
As a revenge attack, several Hadhramite rebels bombarded the city of 'Abadan, which was where the Dhu Yazan clan lived.
[8][9] Later, a portion of the Yazanites which included Sumyafa' Ashwa were ordered to fortify the fortress at Hisn al-Ghurab by Dhu Nuwas.
After the Aksumites had invaded Himyar, Sumyafa' Ashwa and the Yazanites under him came out from hiding and made peace with the king Kaleb.
In 570 CE, the Yazanite prince Ma'adi Yakrib ibn Abi Murrah requested help from the Sasanian Empire to end the Aksumite rule over Yemen.