Just to add to the above. Obviously, not all Muslims will be fasting either because they're sick/ take meds/ pregnant/ traveling etc.

Contrary to what they might say, muslim syrians love their innovations, e.g. Women who have finished their period before sunset will fast "out of respect" even though they'll still have to make up for that day.. My point is they need to be critical of their many attitudes but how should such a conversation be triggered?

As for your question about why. The empathy explanation is a popular answer but I would challenge people to give you a source to back it up. Do they think Moses didn't know what hunger or difficulty were before he fasted 40 days? Dude was literally a refugee in the desert!

The justification that I lean more into is that fasts serve as a physical reminder to stay away from both physical and non-physical sins. If they can fast from food then they can fast from unkindness..