After secondary education in the Netherlands, he continued his studies in Syria to study Islamic laws and Arabic literature for four years at the al Furqaan institute. Furthermore, during his stay in Damascus (outside the Al Furqaan Institute) he took lessons with many great scholars in Damascus.

Upon return to the Netherlands, Zekeriya studied at higher vocational education (Pabo) and at the University of Leiden (Islamic Theology). Furthermore, Zekeriya has been chairman of the Islamic youth association Ayasofya in Rotterdam, chairman of SPIOR (Foundation Platform Islamic Organizations Rijnmond), was responsible for two years for the Educational Institute SCIV (Social Cultural Islamic Association) and has been working for some time as Islamic spiritual caregiver.