Which charity is best?

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most virtuous charity is that after which a person still remains well-off; begin your spending with those whom you support; and the upper hand is better than the lower hand."
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was seated in a gathering, and the people thought that perhaps revelation was descending upon him. The people did not speak to him at all, until Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) came and sat down beside the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Then the narrator mentioned the whole hadith, in which, further on, are these words: I said: O Prophet of Allah! What is charity? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Its reward is multiplied many times over, and with Allah Almighty there is still more (reward and recompense). I said: O Prophet of Allah! Which charity is most virtuous? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Giving charity secretly to a poor person, or the charity a person of little means gives through his own effort.
Ahmad recorded it within a long hadith, and al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Its chain contains a narrator, Ali bin Zayd, about whom there is criticism.

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: I said: O Messenger of Allah! What is charity? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Its reward is multiplied many times over. I said: O Messenger of Allah! Which of it is most virtuous? He said: The charity a person of little means gives through his own effort, or giving charity secretly to a poor person.
Ahmad recorded it within a long hadith. Its chain contains a narrator, Abu Amr al-Dimashqi, who is matruk (abandoned).

Sayyiduna Qatadah bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: A man said: O Messenger of Allah! Which prayer is most virtuous? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The one with long standing. He asked: Which charity is most virtuous? He said: The charity a person of little means gives through his own effort. He asked: Which of the believers is most complete in faith? He said: The one whose character is best.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Its chain contains a narrator, Suwayd Abu Hatim, about whom there is criticism.

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Sayyiduna Abu Dharr al-Ghifari (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Messenger of Allah! What is charity? He said: Its reward is multiplied many times over, and from Allah Almighty there is still more. Then he recited this verse: "Whoever gives Allah Almighty a goodly loan, Allah Almighty will grant him a reward multiplied many times over." It was asked: O Messenger of Allah! Which charity is most virtuous? He said: Giving secretly to a poor person, or the charity a person of little means gives through his own effort. Then he recited this verse: "If you disclose your charities, that is good."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Its chain contains a narrator, Ali bin Zayd, about whom there is criticism.

Sayyiduna Hakim bin Hizam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Which charity is most virtuous? He said: Begin your spending with those whom you support, and (the best is) the charity after which a person still remains well-off.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. As for Abu Salih, the freed slave of Hakim, I have not found anyone who has written his biography.

Sayyiduna al-Hakam bin Umayr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The most beloved deed in the sight of Allah Almighty is that of a person who feeds a hungry poor person, or pays off someone's debt, or removes someone's distress."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Its chain contains a narrator, Sulayman bin Salamah al-Khaba'iri, who is da'if (weak).