What is meant by "istihab" (seeking a gift) in the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "I sought these two sons of my uncle as a gift from my Lord, and He granted them to me," and "I sought them as a gift from Allah, and He granted them to me"?

This story was narrated by Ibn Sa'd in Al-Tabaqat Al-Kubra. Ibn Hajar, in Al-Isabah, said: "Its chain of narration is weak." No one has been found to explain the meaning of his saying: "Indeed, I asked my Lord for these two sons of my uncle, and He granted them to me." The apparent meaning is that the Prophet supplicated for them, and Allah answered his supplication, as in the hadith of Bilal ibn Rabah, where the Prophet said: "Indeed, Allah has bestowed His grace upon you in this gathering of yours, so He has granted your wrongdoer to your righteous one, and He has given your righteous one what he asked." It is stated in Injāḥ al-Ḥājah that "He granted your wrongdoer to your righteous one" means the forgiveness of wrongdoers through the acceptance of the intercession and supplications of the righteous.