How much should we pray for?

In His Name, the Most High

One of the best acts to do during the nights of Qadr is to make du`a and to keep in mind that when Allah gives, He doesn't lose anything at all. We recite in our nightly Iftitah supplications,

Laa tazeeduhu kathratul `ataa'i illa joodan wa karaamaa
However often Allah might give, He does not lose anything. Rather, His giving is a cause for Him to give even more out of His generosity and nobility.

Ayatullah Jawadi gave a beautiful example that illustrates this concept of Allah's giving always being easy for Him. The Qur'an describes two acts of Allah that He considers easy:

Retracting of a Shadow
Have you not considered how your Lord extends the shadow? If He wanted, He could have made it stationary. The sun is its guide (and causes its shadow). Then, we draw it to ourselves. It is a simple task. (Surah al-Furqan, Verses 45-46)

Transformation of the Entirety of the Heavens and the Earth
The day on which the earth will be split in two, and they will hasten forth. That is a gathering that is easy for Us to make. (Surah Qaaf, Verse 44)

One act is that of retracting a shadow. As for the other, what could be more complicated and difficult that bringing about resurrection, with all of its complexities and intricacies? Yet Allah (swt) considers both as simple. Therefore, when we are making du'a on the nights of Qadr, let us make duas that are bold and big. For example let us pray that Allah solves the problems of all the Muslims in this world. Answering this du'a, with all its vastness, will still be an easy task for Allah (swt).

Source: Lecture on 21st night of the month of Ramadhan by Ayatullah Jawadi Amuli from Masjid-e-A'azam, Holy City of Qum