It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to the commanders of the armies regarding men who were absent from their wives, and ordered them to hold them to account: either they should provide maintenance or divorce; and if they divorced, they should send the maintenance for the period they had withheld (it).
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النفقات / 15706
It is narrated from Abu al-Zinad that he said: I asked Sa'id bin al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) about a man who does not find (the means) to spend on his wife. He said: "They are to be separated." Abu al-Zinad said: I said: "Is this the Sunnah?" Sa'id (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "It is the Sunnah."
Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "What Sa'id's saying ('Sunnah') resembles is that it is a Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)."
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النفقات / 15707
Yahya bin Sa'id narrates from Sa'id bin al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) regarding a man who is not able to spend on his wife; he said: They are to be separated.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النفقات / 15708
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best charity is that which is given after (one's own) sufficiency, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand; and begin with those you support." He said: O Messenger of Allah, whom do I support? He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Your wife says: 'Feed me or else part from me'; your servant says: 'Feed me and make use of me'; your child says: 'To whom will you leave me?'" Sa'id bin Abi Ayyub narrated it like this from Ibn Ajlan, and Ibn Uyaynah and others narrated it from Ibn Ajlan, from al-Maqburi, from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), and made its final part the statement of Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him).
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النفقات / 15710
Abu Salih narrates from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The best charity is that which leaves (the giver) self-sufficient, and the upper hand is better than the lower hand; and begin with those you look after." Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Your wife will say: 'Feed me, or else divorce me.' Your servant will say to you: 'Feed me, or sell me.' And your son will say: 'To whom will you entrust me?'" They said: O Abu Hurayrah, is this something you say from your own opinion, or is it the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)? Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: No, rather this is from my own (reasoning). Al-Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him) recorded it in the Sahih from Umar bin Hafs bin Ghiyath, from his father, from al-A'mash.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب النفقات / 15711