If it was a judicial ruling, it shows that judgment may be passed in favour of an absent party; whereas if it was merely a fatwa, the report provides no proof for that point.
If it was a judicial ruling, it further follows that no woman other than Hind may take charge of spending on her children except with the judge’s permission; but if it was a fatwa, then any woman in the same situation may spend without such leave.
The soundest opinion is that the Prophet’s ﷺ answer was a fatwa rather than a judicial decree, although our school of law treats it as a judicial ruling.
7- The ḥadīth also establishes reliance on customary practice in matters for which no specific Sharīʿah definition exists, for he granted her “what is sufficient,” and sufficiency is determined by what people customarily consider appropriate for a woman of her standing and for her children.

Third ḥadīth
On the authority of Umm Salamah (Allah be pleased with her): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ heard the hubbub of disputants at the door of his apartment, so he went out to them and said, “Listen! I am only a human being like you. Litigants come to me, and perhaps one of you is more eloquent than another; I may think him truthful and therefore give judgment in his favour. But if I award to anyone something that rightfully belongs to a Muslim, it is only a brand of the Fire; let him take it or leave it.”

Unfamiliar terms
• j alabah: the mingling of loud voices.
• liyadhrahā (“let him leave it”): meaning “let him abandon it”; the particle “or” here is not for choice but for threat and warning.

Overall meaning
The Prophet ﷺ heard the raised, conflicting voices of people quarrelling outside his door, so he came out to adjudicate their case and said: “I am but a human like you; I do not know the unseen or what lies hidden in your hearts so that I could distinguish the truthful from the liar. Litigants present themselves to me for judgment, and my verdict rests on the arguments, evidence and oaths I hear. It could be that one of you is more articulate and convincing than another, so I assume he is truthful and rule in his favour, even though—inwardly—the right belongs to his opponent. Know, then, that my judgment concerns outward matters, not inner realities, and it does not make the unlawful lawful. Whoever receives, by my ruling, something that belongs to another while knowing he is in the wrong is merely taking a portion of Hellfire; let him carry it if he wishes, or leave it.” The punishment of that sin falls back upon him, and Allah lies in wait for the wrongdoers.

Benefits derived from the ḥadīth
1- It affirms that the Prophet ﷺ does not possess knowledge of the unseen or of people’s inner states except for what Allah teaches him, and he pointed to this by saying, “I am only a human being.” Therefore it is impermissible to elevate him beyond the exalted rank Allah has already granted him, ﷺ.