If the Maghrib adhan is called and a person is fasting, should he respond to the mu'adhdhin or break his fast?

The questioner : This questioner, Honorable Shaykh, is a woman who has used the initials N.M. as a code for her name. She is from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Central Region. She says: When a person is fasting, whether in the month of Ramadan or otherwise, and the call is made for the Maghrib prayer, does he break his fast immediately upon first hearing the adhan, or does he respond to the first mu'adhdhin, then recite the supplications prescribed after the adhan, and break his fast after that? Please inform us, Honorable Shaykh?

The Shaykh : I believe there is a conflict between hastening to break the fast and responding to the mu'adhdhin. I believe they contradict each other, because one can respond to the mu'adhdhin while eating. So we say: if he hears a trustworthy mu'adhdhin who does not call the adhan until the time for the Maghrib prayer has entered, a person can eat a date or two or more while responding to the mu'adhdhin.

The presenter : May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you.