Ramadan takes place on the ninth month of the Islamic Lunar calendar and begins with the sighting of the new moon which is expected to appear this year on 23 September.

In Islam, fasting during Ramadan is obligatory. Only the pregnant, the sick and the very young are exempt. No food or drink is permitted from sunrise till sunset.

Fasting is also present in other faiths and is generally undertaken with a belief that self-denial and discipline brings one closer to God.

Do you believe that self-denial is good for you? How far would you go to fulfilling your religious duties? Do you feel pressured by your society to fast? Or do you feel spiritually enriched by the experience?

This debate is now closed. Thank you for your comments.

Your comments:

Self denial helps cleanse the spirit and mind. Some spend the month of Ramadan fasting and praying to God, but right after that month they return to their old ways of sins. I think everyday of our lives should be lived with self denial of some things in life that distant us from God, this will make the world a better place. Happy Ramadan
Tope, California, USA

Thank God for this holy month. I have been fasting during Ramadan since the age of 12 and it always get me closer and closer to God. I don/t feel pressured but encouraged to fast. If you know the reason and importance of fasting, no one will even ask you to fast. Let's not just fast but know why we have to fast. May God listen to our prayers and have mercy on us.
Jamel, London, UK

I think it is good for me because it strengthens my spirit and brings out the power that I otherwise wouldn't know I have. Richard Okech, Nairobi, Kenya

Self-denial is one of the pillars of faith. God Almighty desires a broken and contrite heart which is the true sacrifice of one who determines to turn away from sin. Christians also practice self-denial albeit in moderation. I think it is good for me because it strengthens my spirit and brings out the power that I otherwise wouldn't know I have... the power of God!
Richard Okech, Nairobi, Kenya

I started fasting at the age of 16 not that anyone forced me to it but because i wanted to see whether i could do it. And from my first fasting experience these are the following that i learned: Feeling closer to God, having the sense of being pure and clean and most of all being thankful for each meal that i eat for there are those who are less fortunate and sleep hungry each night.
Amal, Lugansk & Ukraine

Self denial can only enrich your soul if it is accompanied by good deeds Daniel Bassah, Legon- Ghana

Self denial can only enrich your soul if it is accompanied by good deeds. Nowadays religious rituals are becoming only empty because the followers are forced to perform them. It should be a free will and only this can draw an individual to his creator. Happy and successful Ramadan
Daniel Bassah, Legon- Ghana

People's definition of self denial is to a great extent influenced by the prize at the end of the day. We Muslims fast to bring us closer to our maker as it was ordained on the other prophets of generations past. What is more important to me is the fact that we Muslims should take the lessons of self denial of the holy month to mean living with Ramadan's principles till our last days. Happy Ramadan to all Muslims across the globe!
Abubakar Ibrahim, Accra,Ghana

Fasting and other religious activities are up to the individuals. No one should be forced to do anything. We all have different ways of communicating with our God. Just do whatever works for you. My church is presently undergoing 21 days of fasting and prayer. I am really blessed. May God continue to give us the strength to serve him.
Omorodion Osula, Boston, USA

Self denial is what I believe draws you closer to God. Fasting prepares you towards a deeper fellowship and just as physical exercises enriches your body and fitness. However, it should not be required that it be done in a particular month of the year or force someone into do it.
Kojo , London UK

It is good to experience the other side of plenitude through fasting, lest some-day one is caught unawares & unprepared to face the pangs of hunger & penury. Also, if you have fasted, you would never throw away food when there are so many hungry people in the world.
N,

As physical exercise is good for the mind and body so too is self denial good for the soul. As believers, we see how our prophets fasted and prayed when they need divine intervention in challenges confronting them: why shouldn't we do the same? Self-denial should be done for divine purposes and not for societal satisfaction. We should not do this during specified periods or months within the year but whenever we need to communicate closely with God.
Besenty Gomez, Kitty Village, The Gambia

I think that, like with most religious devotions, meaning only arises given the proper attitude toward fasting. If one fasts for the express purpose of remembrance of their dependence on God, for example, then it is clearly a positive thing. But a fast that is imposed on someone, if it has an effect on that person, will almost definitely have a negative one. Personally, I have derived enrichment from fasting, but I would never wish to force it on someone who was unwilling.
Steve Dalton, Boston, USA