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