What is the ruling on someone who stole a sheep, then repented and sought forgiveness from its owner, but the owner demanded an exaggerated sum of money as a condition for forgiveness, which the thief cannot afford to pay?

If the sheep is present, it must be returned to its owner. If it is not present (slaughtered, sold, died), its value must be returned, and by doing so, one's liability is cleared. It is more cautious to pay the full value of the sheep, as some scholars are of the opinion that every partner in a theft guarantees the entire stolen item. As for determining the value, some believe it is its value on the day of the theft, others on the day of damage, some on the day of return, and some at its highest value. You are not obliged to pay an amount that excessively exceeds the value of the sheep; rather, you are required to return its value in a reasonable manner, and the say in this matter belongs to the usurper.