It is not just Muslims who fast. All major religions have advocated fasting. Many famous scientists, painters, philosophers have practiced fasting. Leonardo Da Vinci fasted and advocated it. Confucius also practiced and advocated it as well as Gandhi. Pythagorus advocated fasting and when he had an exam, he fasted for 40 days just for the exam. One of his conditions for his students had to fast for 40 days!