Zain Hashmi was born in Pakistan. In his early years, he lived in Saudi Arabia. Having also lived in Toronto, Canada he has experienced life in both the East and West. He is an MBA by education, and runs a consulting firm. Zain Hashmi is from a family of Sufi saints. He is named after his great grandfather, the last Sufi saint in his lineage. He is a descendant of Baha-ud-Din Zakariya, a prominent 13th-century Sufi saint of the sub-continent who belonged to the clan of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Banu Hashim.