Originally published in Akron Beacon Journal
As an American living in America, I take many things for granted, such as the basic needs of food and water.
During Ramadan, the holy month of Islam, Muslims take a spiritual journey while fasting from sunrise to sunset.
This allows Muslims to get a much better understanding of what the poor around the world experience. Not only does it create sympathy, but also Muslims learn to abstain from other evils and vices and grow closer to God.
Fasting has many benefits, including physical benefits that help different systems in our bodies.
But it is not only Muslims who benefit from fasting. People of various different religions around the world fast.
This may be because we are all doing it for one primary reason: to gain the pleasure of our God.