What is the ruling on fasting on Ashura Day?

Is fasting on Ashura Day wajib?

Is fasting on Ashura Day wajib?

It used to be wajib to fast on the day of Ashura before fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory

Narrated 'Aisha:

The people used to fast on 'ashura (the tenth day of the month of Muharram) before the fasting of Ramadan was made obligatory. And on that day the Ka'ba used to be covered with a cover. When Allah made the fasting of the month of Ramadan compulsory, Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever wishes to fast (on the day of 'ashura') may do so; and whoever wishes to leave it can do so." (Bukhari; 26; 662)

'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Quraish used to fast on the day of 'ashura in the pre-Islamic days and the Messenger ot Allah (may peace be upon him) also observed it. When he migrated to Medina, he himself observed this fast and commanded (others) to observe it. But when fasting during the month of Ramadan was made obligatory he said: He who wishes to observe this fast may do so, and he who wishes to abandon it may do so. (Muslim; 6,2499)

Yahya related to me from Malik from Ibn Shihab that Humayd ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Awf heard Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan say from the mimbar on the day of ashura in the year in which he made the hajj, "People of Madina, where are your learned men? I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say about this day, 'This is the day of ashura, and fasting it has not been prescribed for you. I am fasting it, and whoever of you wants to fast it can do so, and whoever does not want to, does not have to.' " (Muwatta, 18, 18.11.34)

There is a consensus amongst the scholars that it is nafila to fast on the Day of Ashura

As narrated in the hadiths above, although it was ordered to fast on the Day of Ashura before, after the Ramadan fast was prescribed, it became optional (nafila).