[1] He started his career as a school teacher and retired after serving 27 years as the principal of Zahira College, Colombo.

The Jayah family belonged to Malay ethnic minority group in Sri Lanka.

[4] Jayah passed London Matriculation and Inter Arts Examinations which helped him to become a school teacher.

[5] While being a teacher, he continued his academic pursuit and obtained a degree in Classics from the University of London.

The actual invitation was made by N H M Abdul Cader, on behalf of the Maradana Mosque Committee.

Jayah gave up his future career as a lawyer and decided to remain in the education sector, where he seemed to believe that he can make a valuable contribution to his community.

He started the classes up to Matriculation level; increased the number of teachers from 6 to 30; expanded the sport facilities; opened a science library, a canteen, a hostel, a dental clinic and a free night school.

Jayah's tenure as the principal is generally considered as the golden age of the Zahira College.

In 1942, the first branch was opened in Dharga Town (Zahira College, Dharga Town) to address the difficulties students from the South of Ceylon faced in continuing their studies in Colombo due to the outbreak of the Second World War, followed by the Gampola branch in 1944.

After the demise of N. H. M. Abdul Cader, Jayah was appointed as the president of the All Ceylon Muslim League.

[4] In 1924, for the first time in the history, an election was held to select members for the Legislative Council from Mohammedan (Muslim) electorate.

[5] In 1931, after the Donoughmore Constitution, all adult citizens of the country were granted voting rights to elect members for the State Council.

Jayah contested for the Colombo Central electorate, but was defeated by a prominent politician, the Ceylon Labour Party leader, A.E.

In the inaugural meeting held at Palmcourt, Albert Crescent, Colombo on 6 September 1946, Jayah seconded the proposal made by S. Natesan to unite several political fronts as a single party.

The party was formed by uniting the National Congress, the Sinhala Maha Sabha, the All Ceylon Muslim League which was under the leadership of Jayah, the Moors Association which was under the leadership of Sir Razik Fareed, and some individual members of the Tamil and Burgher communities.

In 1950, Jayah resigned from the house of representatives and from his post as the cabinet minister to assume duties as the first high commissioner to Pakistan.