Following are the stated purposes of fasting for all Muslims during Ramadan as commanded in the Quran.

1. To develop and strengthen our powers of self-control, so that we can resist wrongful desires and bad habits, and therefore “guard against evil” In fasting, by refraining from the natural human urges to satisfy one’s appetite, we are exercising our ability of self-restraint, so that we can then apply it to our everyday life to bring about self-improvement.
2. To attain nearness and closeness to God so that He becomes a reality in our lives. As we bear the rigors of fasting purely for the sake of following a Divine commandment, knowing and feeling that He can see all our actions however secret, it intensifies the consciousness of God in our hearts, resulting in a higher spiritual experience.
3. To learn to refrain from usurping other’s rights and belongings. In fasting we voluntarily give up even what is rightfully ours; how can then we think of taking what is not ours but belong to someone else?
4. Charity and generosity is especially urged during Ramadan. We learn to give, and not to take. The deprivation of fasting makes us sympathize with the suffering of others, and desirous of alleviating it; and it makes us remember the blessings of life which we normally take for granted.

Furthermore, they state that:
Fasting in Islam does not just consist of refraining from eating and drinking, but from every kind of selfish desire and wrong-doing. The fast is not merely of the body, but essentially that of the spirit as well. The physical fast is a symbol and outward expression of the real, inner fast.

Fasting is a spiritual practice to be found in all religions. The great Founders of various faiths (Buddha, Moses, Jesus, etc.) practiced quite rigorous fasting as a preliminary to attaining their first experience of spiritual enlightenment and communion with God.

Finally, their prophet stated:
“He who does not give up uttering falsehood and acting according to it, God has no need of his giving up his food and drink.”

This all sounds great, but in reality, it ends up being for show, just as the Pharisees when they fasted and prayed. For instance:

In Muslim countries, on average there is a 50% increase in demand for food during the fasting month of Ramadan over any other month of the year.

Of all food purchased or prepared during Ramadan in North Africa and the Middle East, 25% finds its way to the garbage bin before ever being used or consumed by Muslims. In spite of this waste, it is made illegal for poor people to beg for food or money during the month of Ramadan.

Fasting in Muslim countries is not a choice of the individual, but is rather mandated by ruling governments and is enforced by law enforcement and religious police. 

When you pray today:

• Ask that fasting Muslims during this month of fasting will have their eyes opened to the hopelessness of the enforced rituals of Islam that they go through in trying to appease and find favor with Allah.
• During this month Muslims hope to achieve taquaa, or God consciousness. Pray that as Muslims seek this connection with God they will truly come to know the one true God, and experience the salvation that He has provided through the sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ.
• Pray that God will continue to reveal Himself among His people and draw them to Himself in the Muslim world, whether it be through visions, dreams, radio, TV programs, or items distributed to them such as Bibles, Jesus Films or other narrated stories.
• Pray for the burden of more believers to go and minister in the Muslim world, whether it be a short-term trip or to relocate and live among them.