For a set period a believer abstains from food, or from certain foods, as an act of devotion. That practice is fasting. It appears in virtually every major religious tradition.

Motivations include repentance, purification, solidarity with the poor, preparation for revelation, and training in self-control. Islamic Ramadan, Christian Lent, Jewish Yom Kippur, and Hindu and Buddhist fasting days illustrate the range. Rules specify what is forbidden, when the fast begins and ends, and who is exempt.

Physical effects are real; traditions therefore counsel prudence and provide exceptions for the sick, pregnant, and young. The spiritual intention distinguishes religious fasting from dieting or political hunger strikes. Many report heightened clarity or dependence on God during the fast. The first meal afterward often carries a sense of gratitude and celebration.

Fasting trains the body to serve the aims of the spirit.