I have a brother who is starting his practical life and getting married. I live in another country. Is it allowed to give him from my Zakah money to help him complete his marriage?

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Allah, The Most-High, has restricted the Zakah money to be spent on eight kinds of people and should not be spent on other than them.

Allah Says (interpretation of meaning): {As-Sadaqât (here it means Zakât) are only for the Fuqarâ' (poor), and Al-Masâkin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds); and for to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islâm); and to free the captives; and for those in debt; and for Allâh's Cause (i.e. for Mujâhidûn - those fighting in the holy wars), and for the wayfarer (a traveller who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allâh. And Allâh is All-Knower, All-Wise.}[9:60].

Based on the above, if your brother is a person in need of Zakah, for instance, if he is poor or destitute, or indebted with an amount of money that he could not pay back, etc… so you can give him from the Zakah of your wealth.

However, if your brother does not fit into one of the eight kinds of people mentioned above, then he has no right in Zakah money.  And if you give him from the Zakah of your wealth while he does not deserve it, then you would not have fulfilled your duty (i.e. you have still to pay the Zakah as the amount of money given to him would not be considered as Zakah).

Allah knows best.