Born from a Minangkabau family, Jahja joined the Indonesian nationalist movement and led the Siliwangi Division during its long march of 1948, being captured in the process.

Later on, the regiment was merged with the ones in Sukabumi and Bogor, with Jahja being detached, initially assisting with reorganisation of other units before being assigned command of the 3rd brigade based in Purwakarta.

During the march, Jahja was captured by Dutch forces alongside one of his battalion commanders in late December 1948 – reportedly, because they fell asleep.

[1][14] During the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference in The Hague, Jahja participated as a member of the Indonesian delegation's military committee.

[15] In anticipation for the Dutch transfer of sovereignty following the conference, Jahja, then a lieutenant colonel, was appointed by then Coordinator of National Security Hamengkubuwono IX as Military Governor of Jakarta on 16 December 1949.

[16] Captain Raymond Westerling's activities in an attempt to seize power caused significant issues to Jahja during his time as Governor.

[7] Jahja died on 20 June 1985 from a heart attack after he had just concluded Eid al-Fitr prayers at Sunda Kelapa Mosque in North Jakarta.