Fathwa - The ruling on breaking the fast before the Athaan of Maghrib

Question
Some brothers in ourMasjidbreak their fast ten minutes before
theAthaanofMaghribinRamadhaanand in any other month. Is this an act
ofSunnah? Is it supported by an authenticHadeeth?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that
Muhammad,, is His Slave and Messenger.
Breaking the fast is contingent on the sunset and not the announcing
of theAthaan. So, if the sun sets, it becomes permissible for the
Muslim to break his fast. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And
eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct to you
from the black thread [of night]. Then complete the fast until the
sunset.}[Quran 2:187]
The Prophet,, said:"When the night falls fromhere and the day elapses
from there, and the sun sets, the Muslim can break his
fasting."[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
If theMu'aththinannounces theAthaantenminutes after the sunset, it
will be permissible for those people to break their fast when they do
after being sure of the sunset. This is even recommended because the
Prophet,, said:"People will always retain goodness as long as they
hasten to break the fast and delay the Suhoor."[Al-Bukhaari]
But if theMu'aththinannounces theAthaanat its usual due time, then the
breaking of the fasts of those people before theAthaanand the
sunsetwill invalidate their fast. If they are observing an obligatory
fast this will be a grave major sin. They must repent to Allaah The
Almighty sincerely and make up for the days they broke their fast on
before sunset.
TheSunnahseverely warns the Muslim who breaks his fast before sunset.
It was narrated on the authority ofAbu Umaamah Al-Baahilithat the
Prophet,, said:"Two men came to me, held my upper arm and we went to a
ruggedmountain. They asked meto climb it, but I told them I could not.
They told me that they would make it easy for me. When I climbed the
mountain and reached itsmiddle, I heard loud voices. I asked, 'What
are these voices?' They said, 'This is the howling of the people of
Hell.' Then Iwas taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging
from their hamstrings, with the corners of their mouths torn and
dripping with blood. I asked, 'Who are these?' They said, 'The people
who broke their fast before the proper time of breaking the
fast.'"[An-Nasaa'i:Al-Kubra][Al-Haakim said "Saheeh according to the
conditions stipulated by Muslim" and Ath-Thahabi agreed with
him]Allaah Knows best.