His  main influences include James Dator, Johan Galtung, William Irwin Thompson and in particular P. R.

[4] Inayatullah is most famous for introducing and pioneering the futures technique of causal layered analysis, that uses a four-layered approach to bring about transformative change.

[7] He also edited and wrote the introductory chapter for the Causal Layered Analysis (CLA) Reader.

[14] In addition to his role at Tamkang University, Inayatullah is the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at the Sejahtera Centre for Sustainability and Humanity, IIUM, Malaysia[15] From 2016 to 2021, he was the UNESCO Chair in Futures Studies at USIM, Malaysia.

He was also an adjunct professor at the Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter-Terrorism, Macquarie University, Sydney,[16] from 2011 to 2014 and adjunct professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast (Faculty of Social Sciences and the Arts) from 2001 to 2020.