Dato' Syeikh Yahaya bin Haji Jusoh was born on 14 Feb. 1948 in Kampung Bukit Raya, Pendang, Kedah. He received his early education at the Kampung Bukit Raya Dalam School, Pendang from 1954 until 1962. A year later, he continued his studies at the Batu Menunggol Secondary Religious School until 1966. He then entered Special Class at the Mahmud College for two years. In 1969, he studied at the Hahdatul Hasanah Religious School at Melele for two years.

Then, in 1971 he was offered to continue his studies at the Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His passion for knowledge had motivated him to continue his studies at the Malaysian International Islamic University in 1988, where he obtained a Diploma in Laws of Administration and judiciary.

Career

• Appointed as Kadi (1 March 1979)
  
• District Kadi of Pendang (1 June 1979)
  
• District Kadi of Bandar Baharu (1 April 1982)
  
• Registrar of Syariah Court (15 July-14 July 1987)
  
• District Kadi of Kota Setar (15 July 1987-30 June 1988)
  
• Registrar of Syariah Court (1 July 1988)
  
• Deputy Chief Kadi of Central Kedah (2 Aug 1989)
  
• Deputy Chief Kadi Northern Kedah (1990) Information and Chief Missionary of Kedah (16 Okt 1995)
  
• President, Religious Affairs Department of Kedah (3 March 1998- until now)

In appreciation of his services and contributions, he was awarded the Setia DiRaja Kedah (S.D.K) in 1991 and the Bintang Cemerlang Kedah (B.C.K) in 1997.