Is it permissible for the one who is doing Qiraan to change his intention to Ifraad?

Praise be to Allah.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Baaz answered a question concerning the ruling on one who intends to do Hajj as Tamattu’ then after passing the Meeqaat he changes his mind and starts to recite Talbiyah with the intention of doing Hajj al-Ifraad – does he have to offer the sacrifice? 

He said: “It depends. If his intention before reaching the Meeqaat had been to do Tamattu’, then after reaching the Meeqaat he changed his intention and entered ihraam for Hajj only [Ifraad], there is nothing wrong with that and he does not have to offer the fidyah (penalty). But if he had recited the Talbiyah with the intention of doing ‘Umrah and Hajj together from the Meeqaat or from before the Meeqaat, then he wanted to make it Hajj only, he cannot do that, but there is nothing to stop him making it ‘Umrah, but he cannot make it Hajj. Qiraan cannot be changed to Hajj (ifraad) but it can be changed to ‘Umrah because that is easier for the believer and because that is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded.  So if a person enters the state of ihraam with the intention of doing ‘Umrah and Hajj together (Qiraan) from the Meeqaat, then he decides to make it Hajj only, he cannot do that but he can change it to ‘Umrah only, which is better for him. So he can do Tawaaf and Sa’ee, then cut his hair and exit the state of ihraam, then he can enter ihraam for Hajj, and thus he will be doing Tamattu’.”