Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) said that the day of 'Ashura was mentioned before the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, (ﷺ) said:

That was a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days used to observe fast. So he who amongst you likes to observe fast should do so, and he who does not like it should abandon it.

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا لَيْثٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ رُمْحٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، رضى الله عنهما أَنَّهُ ذُكِرَ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏

‏ كَانَ يَوْمًا يَصُومُهُ أَهْلُ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَصُومَهُ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَنْ كَرِهَ فَلْيَدَعْهُ ‏

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