The ruling on changing the ইহরাম intention depends on the direction of the change. Adding হজ্জ to an existing উমরাহ intention (converting from ifrad উমরাহ to qiran — combining হজ্জ and উমরাহ) is permissible জমহুর উলামাদের মতে, provided this is done before beginning the তাওয়াফ of উমরাহ. Once তাওয়াফ has begun, the rites of উমরাহ have started and the intention cannot be changed according to most scholars. Sheikh Ibn Baz confirmed this ruling, noting that নবী করীম (সাল্লাল্লাহু আলাইহি ওয়া সাল্লাম) himself performed qiran, combining হজ্জ and উমরাহ in a single ইহরাম.
The more debated question is whether a হাজী who entered ইহরাম for হজ্জ alone (ifrad) can change their intention to উমরাহ (converting to tamattu). This is based on the famous incident during the Farewell হজ্জ when নবী করীম instructed his companions who had entered ইহরাম for হজ্জ but did not have a sacrificial animal (hady) to change their intention to উমরাহ, perform তাওয়াফ and sa'i, cut their hair, and exit ইহরাম, then re-enter ইহরাম for হজ্জ on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen held that this option remains available to হাজীগণ today, not limited to the companions alone.
The Permanent Committee ruled that a হাজী may change from হজ্জ to উমরাহ (becoming mutamatti') as long as they have not begun the rites of হজ্জ. However, the Hanafi and Maliki schools generally do not permit downgrading from হজ্জ to উমরাহ once ইহরাম for হজ্জ has been assumed. If a হাজী is unsure of their intention, they may make a conditional intention (ishtirat) at the time of entering ইহরাম, saying: 'If something prevents me, my place of exit from ইহরাম is wherever I am stopped.'