Should Zakat be Given Locally?

Giving Zakat locally is recommended but optional. Islam emphasizes the significance of helping those in need in one’s community. This way, one can directly witness the positive impact of their contribution. However, giving Zakat to those in need elsewhere in the world is also permissible due to the ease of transfer and the urgent need of people in other countries. The ultimate goal of Zakat is to help those in need regardless of their location.