ʿAli b. al-Fudayl used to buy goods from the [local] neighborhood merchants. Someone told him: “You could buy them cheaper if you shopped at the city market” He answered, "These merchants have settled in our neighborhood in the hope of serving our needs." (al-Risala)

One of the great Sufis of the past expressing a sentiment similar to what we hear today: "shop locally even if a little more expensive." More so, ʿAli b. al-Fudayl frames the activity of these merchants not as profit-seeking but as service. True husn al-dhann of fellow humans.

And if these merchants are acting to be in the service of the locals, we the locals should assist them and enable them to fulfil such a service, i.e. by purchasing their goods, and in the process allow them to earn more reward for their service.

Our tradition is amazing.

Note: ʿAli b. al-Fudayl is the son of the great al-Fudayl b. ʿIyad. Al-Dhahabi said he was من كبار الأولياء.

We can mention this alongside many other examples to show the importance of "the local" and local-rootedness: local scholarship, local mosques, local businesses, local zakat, local communities, etc. etc.