[7] He began his early education in Brunei before pursuing further studies at Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah in Singapore from 1950 to 1955 and later at Kolej Islam Malaya in Klang from 1956 to 1959.

[9][1] Upon returning from Egypt, Zain won the Tanjong Maya seat with 277 votes as a Partai Rakyat Brunei candidate during the 1962 Bruneian district council election.

[12] He quickly gained recognition as an influential public speaker and became one of the newly educated ulama who began taking on significant roles in Brunei's religious institutions.

This marked a gradual shift from the traditional leadership dominated by the Pengiran social class to positions held by those with modern Islamic education.

[12][13] During this time, the religious primary school curriculum in Brunei was considered lengthy and disorganised, resulting in many students failing their exams due to the extensive reading requirements.

[17] In his Borneo Bulletin speech on syariah law on 14 June 1995, Zain highlighted how Brunei's legal system was shaped by the MIB worldview.

[18] Zain announced that the government had allocated B$11.3 million to supply computers to every school in Brunei, a move he highlighted during the tenth Teachers' Day celebration on 23 September 2000.

[23] On 22 March 2010, Zain rejected a proposal by Goh King Chin to create a tourist "alcohol zone," warning that such a move would provoke Allah's wrath, affecting not only those who drink but the entire nation.

He reiterated that public alcohol consumption is prohibited in Brunei, with the exception of non-Muslim tourists who are allowed to bring in small amounts for personal use.

Zain cautioned that establishing an alcohol zone would tarnish Brunei's reputation as a deeply pious nation and could lead to further unwelcome proposals, such as areas for clubs or prostitution.

On 16 February 2011, he was the honoured guest at the Dikir Syarafil Anam event at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), where he delivered a lecture celebrating the Prophet Muhammad's legacy.

[31] On 4 July 2013, in Kuala Belait, he urged parents, especially mothers, to instil moral and religious values in their children, inspired by Qur'anic figures like Siti Maryam, reflecting his commitment to Brunei's vision as a "Negara Zikir.

[33] Zain's poetry addresses a broad spectrum of themes, including marital love, the beauty of nature, human tragedy, and Islamic subjects such as prayer, purposeful living, closeness to Allah, resisting evil desires, and patriotism.

Zain's poetry acts as a form of dakwah, gently persuading readers to live with faith, sincerity, and compassion, reflecting his belief in the importance of gratitude and kindness toward others.