[8] In that period, the Ruwallah tribe was one of the most influential nomadic groups in the Syrian Badiya, with loose encampments that could spread over hundreds of kilometres.

Al Shalaan was responsible for the management of water and pastural resources across these encampments and maintaining peace amongst the various factions within the tribal confederacy.

[10] Then Al Shalaan became a supporter of the Hashemites as a result of the Allies' influence, particularly of T. E. Lawrence, and was financially assisted by Emir Faisal, son of Sherif Hussein.

[8][11] Al Shalaan first rejected the offer of Emir Faisal to join the Arab revolt against the Ottomans, and his meeting with Lawrence in July 1917 was not fruitful.

[14] However, his alliance with Emir Faisal did not last long since he began to support the occupying French forces from July 1920 and was paid by them for his services.

[16] Al Shalaan's alliance with the French was also short-lived ending in July 1921 due to the emergence of a new cooperation between him and Emir Abdullah, another son of Sherif Hussein.

Al Shalaan himself owned multiple vehicles and in 1926 attached machine guns to these early automobiles to create a fleet of three "armoured cars", according to reports by the French military administration.

[1] Al Shalaan started an anti-Hashemite propaganda among his tribesmen which led to the end of the financial aid from Emir Abdullah.

[19] In the meantime, he allied himself with the French forces against the Druze during the Great Syrian Revolt, in exchange for providing aerial support against his tribal adversaries.

[21] Al Shalaan signed a peace treaty with the chief of the Sba'a tribe, Rakan bin Mershed, in June 1930.