Is it obligatory to respond to the adhan if it is called before its time?

The questioner : Is it permissible to respond to the mu'adhdhin if he calls the adhan outside its prescribed time? For example, we hear an adhan, or let us say a recording from another country, or we are sitting in a country with a different time zone and we hear the adhan. Do we respond to the mu'adhdhin here, or do we say that the adhan was called before the prescribed time, such as the adhan for the midday prayer being called before the time of zawal, or the second adhan for the dawn prayer? Do we respond to them or not?

The Shaykh : You respond to any mu'adhdhin, provided he is not an innovator.

The questioner : What do you mean by that?

The Shaykh : I mean, for example, if you hear the radio broadcasting a lawful adhan from Riyadh, for instance.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : So you respond to it?

The questioner : I respond to it.

The Shaykh : But if you hear an adhan from the capital of Jordan that contains musical intonation and elongation, you do not respond to it.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Especially if you are a role model for people.

The questioner : Yes, and if the time is not considered, meaning...

The Shaykh : No. Because the time differs from place to place.

The questioner : Yes.