1 Inshallah and theological fatalism
In the Arab context (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Morocco, Iraq, etc.), every statement about the future is implicitly accompanied by an "inshallah" ("God willing"). This formula is not a get-out clause or an escape clause; it expresses a theology of time where time is not at human disposal. Time belongs to Allah. Saying "I be there at 8 p.m. inshallah" is not a legal promise but an intention subject to higher forces (Hall 1983, Lewis 1996). This framework inherited from the Koran reflects a vision where the present is God-given, the future uncertain, and human commitments secondary.
02Commercial and legal misunderstanding
For a Western contractor (especially American or Swiss), "at 8pm inshallah" seems like a binding promise: a time, a place, a date, an obligation. But for an arab partner, it's a shared intention subject to unforeseeable circumstances. When the Egyptian supplier arrives 4 hours late ("there's been traffic, it's God's will"), the contracting party is left to his own devices god's will"), the Western contractor sees a breach of contract. This asymmetry generates recurrent diplomatic unease (Oman & Borsuk 2015, reports HBR Middle East 2010-2020).
03Religious and Koranic genesis
The basis is theological: the Koran (Suras 18:23-24 in particular) enjoins believers to remember "inshallah" for all temporal promises to remember "inshallah" for all temporal promises. This injunction has shaped the language structures and temporal expectations of Arab civilizations for 14 centuries. Fatalism (qadar) - the idea that everything is written in advance by God - coexists human agentivity; inshallah is its linguistic expression.
04documented diplomatic incidents
- Airbus-Middle East contract (2000s) Delivery delays and disagreements over time clauses time clauses..
- EU-Lebanon negotiations (2010s) Recurring misunderstandings about project schedules project timetables due to "inshallah" formulations
[DATE_TO_VALIDATE].
05Practical recommendations
- To do: explicitly accept that "at 8pm inshallah" means "around 8pm if circumstances allow"; use contracts with broad force majeure clauses circumstances permit"; use contracts with broad force majeure clauses.
- Never: treat "inshallah" as an avoidance ploy; penalize an Arab partner an Arab partner for a delay described as an "act of God".
- Alternatives: specify in writing ("we expect delivery on [date] unless unforeseen circumstances arise"); use a cultural mediator for contracts.
Geography of misunderstanding
Neutral
- egypt
- saudi-arabia
- uae
- qatar
- kuwait
- bahrain
- oman
- lebanon
- syria
- jordan
- iraq
- morocco
- algeria
- tunisia
- libya
Not documented
- peuples-autochtones
Documented incidents
- 2000 — Retards de livraison et malentendus sur calendriers temporels ; clauses inshallah interprétées différemment.
Practical recommendations
To do
- - Accepter explicitement que « inshallah » qualifié toute promesse temporelle arabe. - Utiliser des contrats avec clauses de force majeure larges. - Employer un médiateur culturel pour les négociations critiques. - Interpréter les délais comme soumis à des circonstances imprévisibles.
Avoid
- - Ne pas traiter « inshallah » comme stratagème d'évitement. - Ne pas pénaliser un partenaire arabe pour retards qualifiés d'« acte de Dieu ». - Ne pas imposer une rigidité temporelle occidentale à négociations arabes. - Ne pas confondre inshallah avec manque de professionnalisme.
Neutral alternatives
Specify in writing ("we expect delivery on [date] unless unforeseen circumstances"); set internal milestones rather than external dates.