The Quraish used to fast on the day of 'Ashurah in pre Islamic days. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would fast on it in pre-Islamic period. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to Medina, he fasted on it and commanded to fast on it. When the fast of Ramadan was prescribed, that became obligatory, and (fasting on) 'Ashurah was abandoned. He who wishes may fast on it and he who wishes may leave it.  

كَانَ يَوْمُ عَاشُورَاءَ يَوْمًا تَصُومُهُ قُرَيْشٌ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَصُومُهُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ صَامَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ فَلَمَّا فُرِضَ رَمَضَانُ كَانَ هُوَ الْفَرِيضَةَ وَتُرِكَ عَاشُورَاءُ فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ  

'Ashurah was a day on which we used to fast in pre-Islamic days. When (fasting of) Ramadan was prescribed, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: This is one of the days of Allah ; he who wishes may fast on it.  

كَانَ عَاشُورَاءُ يَوْمًا نَصُومُهُ فِي الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَلَمَّا نَزَلَ رَمَضَانُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ هَذَا يَوْمٌ مِنْ أَيَّامِ اللَّهِ فَمَنْ شَاءَ صَامَهُ وَمَنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَهُ  

When the Prophet ﷺ came to Medina, he found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashurah; so they were asked about it (by the Prophet). They said: This is a day on which Allah gave Moses domination over Pharaoh. We fast on it out of reverence to him. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: We have a closer connection with Moses than you have. He then gave orders that it should be observed.  

لَمَّا قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ وَجَدَ الْيَهُودَ يَصُومُونَ عَاشُورَاءَ فَسُئِلُوا عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالُوا هَذَا الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي أَظْهَرَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ مُوسَى عَلَى فِرْعَوْنَ وَنَحْنُ نَصُومُهُ تَعْظِيمًا لَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ نَحْنُ أَوْلَى بِمُوسَى مِنْكُمْ وَأَمَرَ بِصِيَامِهِ