When our master Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with them both) performed Hajj, on the day of Ashura (the tenth of Muharram), he said from the pulpit: O people of Madinah! Where are your scholars? I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say about this day that this is the day of Ashura, Allah has not made its fasting obligatory upon you. I am fasting; whoever wishes may fast, and whoever wishes may not fast.

And with this same chain (it is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her) that in the days of ignorance, the Quraysh used to fast on the day of Ashura, and the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, also used to fast it before his prophethood. Then when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came to Madinah, he himself fasted on this day and also ordered others to fast. Then when Ramadan was made obligatory, its fasts became obligatory and the fast of Ashura was abandoned. So whoever wishes may fast on this day, and whoever wishes may leave it, that is, not fast.