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