Qari Zainuddin, a member of the Shaman Khel sub-clan of the Mehsud tribe, was born in Shaho Deeba village of South Waziristan's Sarokai subdivision. He received education from the Jami’a Speen Mosque, the Darul Uloom Faizoo in Lakki Marwat and also in the seminary of Maulana Taqi Usmani in Korangi, Karachi. After his education, he traveled in support of the Taliban to Afghanistan.