TOOTING, South London – Thanks to a kindhearted elderly Muslim, Santa Claus is 100% real for young Alfie.

The boy’s belief started when he was just four when he thought he spotted Santa walking down the street.

When Hussain, who has a big white beard, heard the little boy call him Santa, he turned around and gave him some money, leading Alfie to believe that he really was Father Christmas.

Alfie’s mum, Tracy Ashford-Rose, told BuzzFeed News that she remembers Alfie shouting out, “Look it’s Father Christmas!'”

Hussain “got three houses away and came back to knock on my door; he said he couldn’t pass without giving a gift as my little boy thought he was Father Christmas,” Ashford-Rose continued.

“This was four years ago, and we still exchange gifts to each other. He comes to see Alfie and my daughter Hayley on their birthdays and gives gifts, he never forgets the dates.

“We now call him Grandad Christmas. We see him throughout the year, he shakes Alfie’s hand, and has a cuddle. Christmas wouldn’t be the same without him now.”

Kindhearted Man

A friend of the family was present when Hussain visited the family last Sunday and shared the heartwarming story on Facebook.

“It’s not very often that I get a tear in my eye at a photo shoot, but that guy just did it for me. I thought I had to tell that story,” Amanda Taylor-Purchase, a professional photographer, and the family’s former neighbor, told BuzzFeed News.

“I’ve known Alfie since he was just a baby, there’s not much that stops him in his tracks, but when he saw ‘Father Christmas,’ he came running into me and said ‘You’ve got to come, the real Santa Claus is at our door, he comes to our house.'”

Taylor-Purchase added: “When I looked out I was a bit confused,” because Hussain does not actually look like Father Christmas.

“Not at all,” she said, “obviously it’s just the beard association for Alfie – he’s a little fellow, very skinny, wearing a business suit. It’s the sweetest thing, Alfie doesn’t see the color of skin, the color of clothing, he sees the color of someone’s heart.”

“This guy looked so friendly and so welcoming and he saw his big white beard and thought he was Santa Claus.”

“For him to come back and knock every year and not forget his birthday, not forget Christmas, and even remember his older sister who doesn’t believe in Santa – it’s just the sweetest thing.”

Britain is home to a sizable Muslim minority of nearly 2.7 million.

Christmas is the main festival on the Christian calendar.

Muslims believe in Jesus as one of the great Prophets of God and that he is the son of the Virgin, Mary, but not the Son of God. He was conceived and born miraculously.

In the Noble Qur’an, Jesus is called “Isa”. He is also known as Al-Masih (the Christ) and Ibn Maryam (Son of Mary).

As for his crucifixion, Muslims believe that Jesus was not crucified but was lifted up to heaven.

Muslims believe that Jesus will come back to earth before the end of time to restore peace and order, fight the Anti-Christ (Al-Masih Al-Dajjal) and bring victory for truth and righteousness.