The purpose of Ramadan and why Muslims fast
We are currently in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan 2013 in which Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual relations between the break of dawn and sunset. This year in the UK the period of fasting is around 18 to 19 hours and Muslims in other parts of the world, such as Scandinavia, fast for even longer. Many, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, will be asking why do this? Why avoid fulfilling the desires which are a fundamental part of our make up as humans?