Which is better: to dedicate the reward of charity to someone who has done a good deed, or to give charity on one's own behalf and supplicate for that person?

A Muslim is obliged to reward those who have been good to him with what he deems a sufficient recompense, according to his ability, or by supplicating for them. There is no reported preference between giving charity on behalf of the benefactor and supplicating for him. However, the apparent meaning of the hadith indicates that recompensing with gifts and the like takes precedence over supplication, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "If you do not find anything with which to reward him, then supplicate for him."