What is the ruling on changing the intention of the Hajj after entering Mecca? A man intended to perform Hajj tamattu’, but became ill after entering Mecca and was unable to perform the ʿUmrah until the Day of Tarwiyyah. As he does not wish to exhaust himself by performing ʿUmrah on that day before standing at ʿArafa, is it permissible for him to change his intention of ihram from tamattu’ to qiran? Please note that he is still in a state of ihram and has not performed tawaf of the Sacred House.

Hajj and ‘Umrah are among the rites of Islam. Allah Almighty says, “And complete the Hajj and the ‘Umrah for the sake of Allah” (Quran, 2:196). Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “One ‘Umrah to the next is an expiation for what is between them, and an accepted Hajj has no reward but Paradise” (Bukhari and Muslim).

 

Ifrad, Tamattu’, and Qiran

It is established in Islamic law that ihram for Hajj has three forms:

• Ifrad (Hajj before ‘Umrah): Entering ihram for Hajj only from the miqat[1] during the months of Hajj.[2]
• Tamattuʿ (‘Umrah first): Entering ihram for ‘Umrah during the months of Hajj, completing it, then entering ihram for Hajj in the same year.
• Qiran (Hajj and ‘Umrah simultaneously): Combining Hajj and ‘Umrah in a single ihram, or entering ihram for ‘Umrah first and then adding the intention to perform Hajj before performing ṭawaf.

Whichever form a person undertakes is valid.[3]

 

Changing the intention after entering Mecca

It is permissible to change the intention of Hajj from tamattu’ to qiran after entering Mecca and before beginning tawaf of the Sacred House, as in the case in the question.[4] This is agreed upon by scholars. However, once a pilgrim has performed tawaf, changing the intention is no longer permissible, and the pilgrim remains in the state of tamattu’.

 

The ruling

In the case mentioned in the question, it is permissible for the man—after having intended to perform ‘Umrah with the intention of combining it with Hajj (tamattu’) and being unable to perform it due to illness until the Day of Tarwiyyah—to change his intention from tamattuʿ to qiran, provided that he does so before performing tawaf of the Sacred House.

And Allah Almighty knows best.