Was Zari Really the Intellectual Backbone of Alkida?

Some have said that zari was really the intellectual backbone behind alkida. So i would say that osama bin laden, when he was running the organization, probably was more involved and spiring as a kind of military leader. Zari was much more scholarly. Wrote several influential texts like knights under the prophet's banner. Was certainly heavily involved in the break with what became the islamic state. But you know, as an inspirational individual, how did we actually get him?