However, be aware, the term is not always used in this way, and in many instances when there is not a hope in hell of something happening, it is thrown in for good measure. "We will sign the contract tomorrow, Inshallah" or "Inshallah, you will get a pay rise", implying that Allah does not want it so you don't get it. It can even cover uncertainty - "Inshallah, the engineer will come tomorrow between 4 and 6". That means you do not know if he will come before 4, after 6, at the allocated time or even at all! And if there is a pause between the end of the sentence and the Inshallah, it means either that the person is not so sure any more or really can't be bothered. Bukhra means tomorrow - combine it with Inshallah, and you have "Inshallah, Bukhra" the severe form of Spanish termed 'manana effect'. It ain't gonna happen. Also beware of "Maafi Mushkil," literally "No problem". The problem is that it is a problem.

The whole awareness of God (Allah) is exhibited in many Arabic expressions. Al Hamdulillah is the common response to "How are you?" - "Al Hamdulillah", praise be to Allah, is used even where Arabic is not the local language. And when someone says "Mashallah", literally "What God wills" or equivalent to "Praise the Lord!", it is often heard as an expression of delight. For example, it might be appropriate to use if your boss had said that you were to get a pay rise "Next year, Inshallah", and you finally did receive it but after five.

The non-Muslims in this part of the world have caught on, and you will often hear it from them, when resigned to the inevitable. Inshallah will be followed by the smile - all tongue in cheek, and in good spirits. Unfortunately, in the current climate, any reference to Inshallah will probably alert the CIA, US Government sniffers and the like to websites due to its association of what terrorists have planned. For the record, that is not us. Shisha types are the equivalent of hippies. We spread love and happiness and all that. Finally, the litmus confirmation that someone is a newbie to the Middle East is if they ask you where Shallah is - you know that they have a lot of learning to do.

Yanni

Yanni is a Greek, mullet-haired, uber-performer musician, famous for two things, his relationship with Dynasty's Linda Evans who played Krystle Carrington and for his composition, Aria, which was used to advertise British Airways in the 1990s. Why do I tell you this? Because when someone whose mother tongue is Arabic speaks English, and is at a loss for a word, you'll hear "yaaaaani". Yaani is actually translated to "means" but can also mean "er" or "um", or used in a similar way to when a teenage, usually American, female says "like" - "You know, like, when, like, there was this one time, er" Replace all offending words with "yanni" and you get the picture. Listen out for it, yanni.

Wasta

Wasta is Gulf Arabic referring to how well connected you are, and literally meaning power or influence. You often find people choosing their friends based on how much wasta they have. Let's put it into context for you: Imagine the Superbowl has been sold out for weeks, and you want a ticket. So you call up your buddy to see if he can get you one. Amazingly, he can. You've got wasta, your buddy has got wasta. When the queue at the club is half way round the block and you go straight through the door, no questions asked, you've got wasta. Don Corleone had wasta. Donald Trump has got wasta. Capone had wasta. And I'm sure Bono has got a big amount of wasta. If you can pick up the phone and make something happen, you have wasta. Out here, people like to think they have wasta. Some do, and some don't. "Don't worry, Ill get you a job." And in some companies you will get people like Mr Benn, appearing, as if by magic, on the payroll. But beware, use someone for wasta, and you may have to repay the favour some day, no questions asked. Wasta makes the world go round. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Khallas

Khallas is an Arabic word that is also used in Hindi and all over the Indian sub-continent. It means finished, over, done with, stop, complete. "That's my last discount, Khallas", "Stop the taxi, Khallas" "He is Khallas - tomorrow we will fire him." You can't beat the way it is said in Arabic. It starts at the base of your throat, dawdling awhile to gather the necessary phlegm for the 'Kh' and moves up, lubricated by the 'll' made by tongue high on palate and is finally spat out softly, cushioned by the soothing hiss. But beware, if someone uses it out of context, motioning with their finger across the neck, be afraid, be very afraid.

Yaani. Khallas! Smoke you next time, Inshallah.