Zahid G. Muhammad was born in Nowhatta in the Srinagar district of Jammu and Kashmir, India into a Kashmiri Muslim family.

After graduating from Islamia High School, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Arts degree in English literature from the Islamia College of Science and Commerce of Kashmir University, followed by a course in mass communication from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication in Jammu.

During 1982–1990, he wrote a weekly column for the Press Asia International, New Delhi, and reviewed books on Kashmir history, literature and politics.

He contributed a permanent column Punchline on politics, culture and literature for the Greater Kashmir between 1988 and 1995.

Also, he also wrote a permanent column, The Media-line on print and electronic media in the Greater Kashmir.