The ruling on changing the الإحرام intention depends on the direction of the change. Adding الحج to an existing العمرة intention (converting from ifrad العمرة to qiran — combining الحج and العمرة) is جائز عند جمهور العلماء, provided this is done before beginning the الطواف of العمرة. Once الطواف has begun, the rites of العمرة have started and the intention cannot be changed عند most scholars. الشيخ ابن باز confirmed this ruling, noting that النبي (صلى الله عليه وسلم) himself performed qiran, combining الحج and العمرة in a single الإحرام.
The more debated question is whether a الحاج who entered الإحرام for الحج alone (ifrad) can change their intention to العمرة (converting to tamattu). This is based on the famous incident during the Farewell الحج when النبي instructed his companions who had entered الإحرام for الحج but did not have a sacrificial animal (هدي) to change their intention to العمرة, perform الطواف and السعي, cut their hair, and exit الإحرام, then re-enter الإحرام for الحج on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah. الشيخ ابن عثيمين held that this option remains available to الحجاج today, not limited to the companions alone.
The اللجنة الدائمة ruled that a الحاج may change from الحج to العمرة (becoming mutamatti') as long as they have not begun the rites of الحج. However, the Hanafi and Maliki schools generally do not permit downgrading from الحج to العمرة once الإحرام for الحج has been assumed. If a الحاج is unsure of their intention, they may make a conditional intention (ishtirat) at the time of entering الإحرام, saying: 'If something prevents me, my place of exit from الإحرام is wherever I am stopped.'