Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith Number 2507.
Chapter : Fasting on the day of ‘Ashura (1Oth of Muharram).
Abdullah b. ‘Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) say about the day of Ashura: It is a day on which the people of pre-Islamic days observed fast. So he who liked to fast on this day should do so, and he who liked to abandon it should abandon it. ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) did not observe fast except when it coincided (with the days when he was in the habit of observing voluntary fasts during every month).