Benefits of fasting

Fasting instills a sense of brotherhood and solidarity, as Muslims can feel and experience what human beings feel needy and hungry. However, even the poor, needy and hungry participate in the fast. On the other hand, Ramadan is a month of giving to charity and sharing meals to break the fast together, the reward offered by the latter rather than eating alone. Most importantly, fasting is also seen as a great sign of obedience on the part of the believer to God. Faithful observance of the Sawm is believed to atone for personal fouls and misdeeds and to help win a place in paradise. As mentioned briefly before, fasting can also be observed voluntarily (as part of the Greater Jihad): Sawm is intended to teach believers the patience and self-control of their personal conduct, to help control the passions and temperament, to give time to meditation and to strengthen one's faith. Fasting is also meant to cleanse the inside of the soul and free it from harm. Some scholars, after firs...