Caution: Translations of Quran and Ḥadīth may lead to possible misapplications and misinterpretations. This site is intended for students of sacred knowledge that are proficient in comprehending classical Arabic and have a strong foundation in Islamic sciences. Also note that religious injunctions rely on several aspects beyond what one may glean through reading individual aḥādīth.
darimi:1691ʿAbdullāh b. Ṣāliḥ > al-Layth > Hishām > ʿUrwah > Abū Hurayrah

[Machine] I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying, "The best charity is that which is given when one is still rich, and let one of you begin by supporting those who are dependent upon him."  

الدارمي:١٦٩١أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ صَالِحٍ حَدَّثَنِي اللَّيْثُ حَدَّثَنِي هِشَامٌ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تُصُدِّقَ بِهِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَلْيَبْدَأْ أَحَدُكُمْ بِمَنْ يَعُولُ»  


See similar narrations below:

Collected by Abū Dāwūd, Ibn Ḥibbān, Suyūṭī
abudawud:1676ʿUthmān b. Abū Shaybah > Jarīr > al-Aʿmash > Abū Ṣāliḥ > Abū Hurayrah

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying The best sadaqah is that which leaves a competence ; and begin with those for whom you are responsible.  

أبو داود:١٦٧٦حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ إِنَّ خَيْرَ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا تَرَكَ غِنًى أَوْ تُصُدِّقَ بِهِ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ  

ذِكْرُ الْخَبَرِ الدَّالِّ عَلَى أَنَّ نَفَقَةَ الْمَرْءِ عَلَى عِيَالِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ نَفَقَتِهِ عَلَى أَقْرِبَائِهِ

ibnhibban:4243Ibn al-Junayd Bibust > Qutaybah > Bakr b. Muḍar > Ibn ʿAjlān from his father > Abū Hurayrah

"The best of charity is that which is given when you are self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand, and start with those for whom you are responsible." (Using translation from Nasāʾī 2534)  

ابن حبّان:٤٢٤٣أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْجُنَيْدِ بِبُسْتَ حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ مُضَرَ عَنِ ابْنِ عَجْلَانَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ

عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ «خَيْرُ الصَّدَقَةِ مَا كَانَ عَنْ ظَهْرِ غِنًى وَالْيَدُ الْعُلْيَا خَيْرٌ مِنَ الْيَدِ السُّفْلَى وَابْدَأْ بِمَنْ تَعُولُ»