This year, the Islamic holy month of Ramadan coincides with the Christian Lent – ​​a rare and significant overlap of two spiritual periods of reflection, prayer, and contemplation. While Christians during Lent commemorate the suffering and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Muslims use Ramadan to draw closer to God through fasting, prayer, and charity. A look at the past reveals that fasting has a deep tradition in many cultures and religions. In Christianity, it is not only a time of abstinence but also a period of inner reflection and repentance. An old anecdote recounts how monks in the Middle Ages sometimes creatively circumvented fasting: they are said to have considered beer as liquid sustenance to relax the rules. This is how the famous strong beer came about. In Islam, stories often focus on hospitality during Ramadan. One well-known tale tells of a man who, despite his own poverty, welcomed a guest every evening…