Fasting is a test of willpower. Food, drink, and sexual relations are three of the most significant human impulses, making them challenging to abstain from. Muslims develop self-control so they can use it in other areas of their lives by learning to go without these three basic human necessities for a while. For instance, someone who went sixteen hours without drinking water may find it easier to resist the urge to consume alcohol or engage in other illegal activities. In the end, fasting is done to cultivate the characteristic of being aware of God.