The tribe was first mentioned in Sabean scriptures as (Kholn) in 7th century BCE, and Khawlan bin Amer (Arabic: خولان بن عامر) in the Saada governorate and the Jazan Province (Sarawat Mountains).

From the remaining words in the text, it can be understood that the Khawlan tribe had revolted against the king of Saba.

The Sabaeans prepared a military campaign against them, defeated Khawlan, and prevailed over them, obtaining abundant spoils.

The leader of the campaign was an officer with the rank of Mukawwa named "Abu Karb" from the Khawlan tribe.

[9][10] Another military campaign was launched by the Khawlanis under the leadership of another Mukawwa from Khawlan towards Harib in Marib.

The King assigned one of his Khawlani officers to camp in the city of Sa'dah (Sabean: 𐩨𐩠𐩴𐩧𐩬 𐩮𐩲𐩵𐩩𐩣, romanized: Bhjrn Sa'datm) and provide protection there.

Upon the emergence of Islam, the Khawlan tribes in Sa'dah and Sana'a were devoted to the pagan deity Ami'anas ibn Sanhan.

[12] The Khawlan tribe embraced Islam in the tenth year after the Hijra (migration to Medina).

We have driven our camels to you, and we have traveled the land and its plains, giving thanks to Allah and His Messenger.

The Islamic Prophet replied, "As for your journey to me, for every step you took, you will receive a reward equivalent to the good deed of riding a camel.

The Islamic Prophet then recited to them the verse: 'And they assign to Allah from that which He created of crops and livestock a share...' (Quran 6:136)."

They asked him about the obligations of the religion, so he informed them and commanded them to fulfill their covenants, to uphold trustworthiness, to be good neighbors to those they live among, and not to wrong anyone.

Their language is also spoken by a portion of the mountain dwellers in Yemen, as well as by some other non-Khawlan tribes in Tihama, Asir, and Jazan.

The Khawlanis actively participated in the Islamic conquests, and Al-Samh ibn Malik al-Khawlani ruled over Al-Andalus.

Until the 1950s, members of the Khawlan tribes in Sarawat continued to wear the Sabean attire, which consisted of a ma'awaz, wreath, and a metal collar at the elbow.