Is it permissible to send zakat al-fitr from America to Oman on the grounds that the poor in Oman are in greater need of it than the poor in America?

The questioner : I send zakat al-fitr from America to Oman and we distribute it here. I told him, I see no objection toThe Shaykh : In my opinionThe Shaykh : regarding the transfer, but do you have people who are eligible for it? He said, we have people who are eligible. I told him, well, the first option is to give it to the people here. He said to me, but the poverty we have here is not like the poverty you have there. That is, relatively speaking, compared to there, it is wealth. So relative to that wealth, the poverty that is apparent among them is poverty, but here the poor are in much greater need than the poor there. He says the state over there helps them, and the situation over there supports them, and their circumstances are different from yours. That is, we have here... So we told him, well, this detail... As long as you are speaking withThe Shaykh : and you are detailing it for the Shaykh, and we will see the results. Our Shaykh, what do you see in this?

The Shaykh : If it is as he says... how?

The questioner : ...a gesture.

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : Please, my Shaykh.

The Shaykh : If it is as he says, there is no doubt that it is better for him to send it here.

The questioner : Send it here.

The Shaykh : Yes.

The questioner : That is one thing.