inshaAllah, the true meaning?

Around 8 months back, I along with a few other people took a Time Management Workshop organized by TimeLenders. It was lectured by Suleman Ahmer and was a very informative week. He is an impressive personality with his concepts and communication skills outstanding many others I have experienced. The selection of his words and the relation with Islam & the happenings is awesome. He is an NED graduate and a Masters from US, at that time working in the HR department at a multinational in Karachi. He is also the writer of book "The Embattled Innocence: Recollections of a Muslim Relief Worker". Suleman has also conducted Time Management Workshops in USA and currently in Pakistan and has also written a book on Time Management which I guess would be in the market now.

During one of his lectures, he told us about the happenings in Chechnya a few years back and his involvement as a relief worker there followed by a short story (please spare me as I don't remember the exact wordings, just grasped the concept):

"During this period, the Chechnyans were to build an hospital in such a vicinity which wasn't pretty far away from the place where the Russian army was at that moment. The Russian army was pretty large in number and thus the hospital and the locality had very little chance to survive. All the plan was made to build the hospital and to start the construction, when I approached an engineer and a few other concerned people and raised my concerns. To my surprise it didn't matter for them and one of them said "inshaAllah, the hospital will be built and will remain". I pondered on their attitude and at the end after concentrating on their response it just struck me through the mind. The true meaning of inshaAllah!"

Then, he explained to us what came to his mind and he told us the definition that the Chechnyans used, which is close to "If God doesn't stop me/us" as compared to the definition which is pretty common "If God allows me/us" or atleast is taken this way. Both the definitions mean the same, as far as my knowledge is, but the new definition shows much stronger commitment and healthier will than the old one. I hope I am not inducting any confusion in one's mind, but if you think closely and deeply it is what a Muslim's character should be, commitment & will being considered as one of the most important thing in his/her life. Summary: You should only use inshaAllah when you know you will do it and nothing can stop you except for Allah.

Let's take a few examples:

• You have lent some money from a business relative and you have to give it back in a month. At that point in time you either know that you can't return on time or you don't. If you know then there must be something wrong, right? Will you use the word InshaAllah? I wouldn't have!
• On a busily scheduled day, you are to meet your close friend for something he needs and you have to squeeze some of your activities in order to meet him. He asks for your commitment one day before and at that point in time you know that (because of your priorities) you have little chance of getting out some time. Will you use the word? I wouldn't have! Why? Out of your control! Priorities!
• A new software project comes up and you have to work on such technologies on which you haven't worked upon, but trend says that you are pretty adaptive. You are being asked whether you take the challenge or not. You know that if you work a few extra hours weekly, you can do it! Will you use the word InshaAllah? I would have! Why? Simply because given the scenario, I know I can learn quickly and my dedication would outstand the challenge! In control!

To everyone's surprise, the Russian army backtracked and the hospital was built and is operational since then. The result of the commitment and will is there, no matter how severe the conditions would've been and no matter whether there was hope or not, the planning was done, effort was made & it was finally built! What an awesome exhibition of faith, will & dedication and leaving the rest on God! God didn't stop them, so how can the Russians?!

Since then, one question has been disturbing me, "Do I have the same spark?". Do you?

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Here are a few links of writings by Suleman Ahmer:
http://www.geocities.com/mutmainaa/story/city_girl_doll.html
http://www.wrmea.com/backissues/0795/9507012.htm
http://islamicbookstore.com/a4237.html
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0111/S00023.htm