Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam ‘ala Rasulillah

Narrated ‘Aisha (Radi-Allahu ‘anha):

(The tribe of) Quraish used to fast on the day of Ashura’ in the Pre-lslamic period, and then Allah’s Apostle ordered (Muslims) to fast on it till the fasting in the month of Ramadan was prescribed; whereupon the Prophet said, “He who wants to fast (on ‘Ashura’) may fast, and he who does not want to fast may not fast.”

Bukhari Vol. 3 : No. 117