Ex-Religious Affairs Minister: It’s Haram for Muslims to Participate in the ‘Secret Santa’ Tradition

Former Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Dato’ Seri Dr Haji Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, clarified that it is forbidden for Muslims to participate in the ‘Secret Santa’ tradition that many companies hold during the festive Christmas period.

This is because participating in such a programme can “plunge individuals into the realm of condemnation from the Muslim community” and make it look “as if the Muslim intends to normalise the celebration of other religions.”

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A reader asked Dr Zulkifli whether Muslims are allowed to participate in Secret Santa

In an article published on 23 December 2023, Dr Zulkifli, who is also the former Mufti of the Federal Territories, responded in depth to a reader who asked whether Muslims are allowed to participate in a company’s Secret Santa event where they exchange gifts.

The question reads,

“I would like to ask, is it allowed for us to join a company programme such as Secret Santa? We have to give gifts to others, without revealing our names. Our intention is just to gift presents, not to celebrate the religious celebration. Please clarify, thank you.”

Dato’ seri dr haji zulkifli mohamad al-bakri

The origin of the Secret Santa tradition

Dr Zulkifli then elaborated on the origin of Secret Santa, which is a tradition practised by Christians that originally started with commemorating the anniversary of the death of the Greek Orthodox priest Nicholas.

Nicholas is believed to have been born in the 3rd century in the village of Patara in Asia Minor to wealthy parents who raised him as a very devout Christian. After the passing of his parents due to an epidemic, Nicholas is said to have sold all his inheritance to help those in need, the sick and the suffering.

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Furthermore, Nicholas dedicated his life entirely to his God, eventually being appointed as a priest with the rank of Bishop at a very young age in the 4th century in the city of Myra, Lycia, Greece (now the city of Demre in the Antalya province, Turkiye).

During the Roman rule led by Emperor Diocletian, who cruelly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas was imprisoned in a holding facility that was already full of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. He died on 6 December 343 AD, in the city of Myra. This date was later designated as the Saint Nicholas Day celebration observed by those of the Christian faith.

It’s forbidden for Muslims to participate in Secret Santa

The former Religious Affairs Minister further explained that, given that the origin of the tradition is rooted in the belief of a Christian Bishop, then participating in Secret Santa is certainly Haram or forbidden by Islam.

He added that even if the intention is merely to gift presents and not to celebrate the religious festival, it can’t be a justification to permit participation in the Secret Santa tradition.

“A Muslim must never, under the name of the jurisprudence of coexistence, involve themselves in, let alone give recognition to any matter involving aqidah (creed) of another religion,” Dr Zulkifli stressed.

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He added that the Muzakarah of the National Council of the Fatwa Committee for the 68th Malaysian Islamic Religious Affairs Meeting on 12 April 2005 has put forth a guideline on Muslims celebrating the religious festivals of non-Muslims.

Among others, the guideline stated that the non-Muslim religious festivals must not be accompanied by rituals that are against the Islamic creed and not accompanied by actions that conflict with syara’ (Islamic law) or any matter, action, word, or circumstance which, if performed, would contradict the teachings of Islam practised by the Muslim community.

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Hence, Dr Zulkifli urged the individual who sent the question to try to request an exemption from participating in Secret Santa from their employer out of respect for their creed and faith in the religion of Islam. 

Also read: “9 days off for CNY” – MOE Releases 2026 Academic Calendar, Students to Enjoy More Days of Festive Holidays