I have heard, from a number of sources (including a well known professor of Arabic Studies) that “inshallah” is both a saying and an excuse. “I will see you tomorrow, inshallah,” generally means “I’ll show up, if I feel like it.” And if this person doesn’t feel like it the next day, God willed it. “We will not fire upon you tomorrow, inshalla,” means you should prepare for an attack and so on. And they don’t consider it lying. They literally believe that such behavior is what God wanted them to do in that circumstance. Their word, their actions mean nothing. All is controlled by God. Look up fatalism, its pretty much the same thing.
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My mother, a strong-willed southern baptist, used to say she would do something, “If the good lord is willing and the creek don’t rise”.
Old Mrs. Watkins awoke one spring morning to find that the river had flooded the entire first floor of her house. Looking out of her window, she saw that the water was still rising. Two men passing by in a rowboat shouted up an invitation to row to safety with them. "No, thank you," Mrs. Watkins replied. "The Lord will provide."
The men shrugged and rowed on. By evening, the water level forced Mrs. Watkins to climb on top of the roof for safety. She was spotted by a man in a motorboat, who offered to pick her up. "Don't trouble yourself," she told him. "The Lord will provide."
Pretty soon, Mrs. Watkins had to seek refuge atop the chimney. When a National Guard helicopter came by on patrol, she waved it on, shouting, "The Lord will provide." So the helicopter left, the water rose, and the old woman drowned.
Dripping wet and thoroughly annoyed, she came through the pearly gates and demanded to speak to God. "What happened?" she cried.
"For cryin' out loud, lady," God said, "I sent two boats and a helicopter, WHAT DO YOU WANT???!!!"