So what is his recompense? The pronoun refers to the thief. That is, what is the recompense for his theft if you are lying in your denial and claim of innocence? They said, 'His recompense is whoever is found in his belongings.' That is, the recompense for his theft is taken from whoever is found in his belongings. The ruling for the thief among the family of Jacob was that he should be enslaved for a year. Therefore, they sought a ruling regarding his recompense.

And their saying, 'So it is his recompense,' is a confirmation of the ruling. That is, the thief himself is taken, and that is his recompense, nothing else. Like saying: 'It is the right of Zaid to be clothed, fed, and treated well.' So that is his right. That is, it is his right due to the established claim of his entitlement, and it is binding upon him.

And it may be that 'his recompense' is the subject, and the conditional sentence remains as its predicate, placing the apparent in place of the implied. The original is: 'His recompense is whoever is found in his belongings, so it is he.' Thus, the recompense is placed in the place of 'he,' as you would say to your friend: 'Who is Zaid's brother?' He would say to you: 'His brother is the one sitting next to him, so it is he.' The first pronoun refers to the one, and the second to the brother. Then you say, 'So he is his brother,' establishing the apparent in place of the implied.

It is also possible that 'his recompense' is the news of a deleted subject, that is: the one being asked about is his recompense. Then they gave a ruling by saying: 'Whoever is found in his belongings is his recompense,' just as one says: 'Whoever seeks a ruling regarding the recompense for the hunted animal of the pilgrim, the recompense is for the hunted animal of the pilgrim.' Then it is said: 'And whoever among you kills it intentionally, his recompense is like what he killed of livestock.'