Fasting helps one understand how a hungry person feels and what it is like to have an empty stomach. It can teach people to share in the sufferings of the less fortunate. Muslims believe that fasting leads one to appreciate the God's bounties, which are usually taken for granted until they are missed.

While fasting, some Muslims like to help impoverished people and those in need. Therefore, Ramadan is also known as the month of charity and generosity.

For Muslims, fasting does not mean just abstaining from the consumption of food but also from all bad deeds they could commit. Fasters are urged to exert extra efforts during the holy month of Ramadan to refrain from committing religiously forbidden acts.