The Ruling on Distributing Zakah in a Country Other Than the Zakah-Payer's

Question : The questioner asks: Is it valid to distribute zakah in a country other than the zakah-payer's? And is distributing it in Makkah better?

Answer : Yes, one of the rulings of zakah is meeting the need of the poor. So if there are poor people in your country, do not send the zakah to others, because the nearest relatives are more deserving of kindness, and because the poor people of your country have attached their hearts to the zakah of your wealth, as they look at you as a rich person who will benefit them with zakah. It is not wise to send the zakah here and there while there is a deserving poor person in your country. In fact, some scholars said that this is forbidden and not permissible, and they cited the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) to Mu'adh ibn Jabal when he sent him to Yemen: "Inform them that Allah has made obligatory upon them a charity in their wealth, to be taken from their rich and returned to their poor."
Therefore, do not send the zakah when there are people in your country who are among its people, whether or not. Is that the end of it? Whether in Makkah or elsewhere.
Now, if there is no one in your country who is among its people, then spend it in the nearest country to you that has deserving recipients.