I agree with most of their recommendations and it is a great contribution to strengthen and entrench our newly achieved democratic victory over a tenacious and callous dictatorship which tormented a major part of the Gambian population for 22 years.
Albeit there are some recommendations which I differ and don’t think it wise to institute. An unelected second chamber like Britain House of Lords to oversee legislative process and be some kind of lever over an elected parliament, will be cumbersome, counter-productive and expensive.
Assuming we have an upper house of 30 technocrat senators, each with a salary of D20,000 per month. That will require a new budgetary allocation of D7.2m in a year and D187m over fives years. This estimate excludes, their transport and other allowance.
Imagine they also demand an official car costing D300,000 per car and their own senate house which require constructing a new building and furniture. The cost of car (excluding car maintenance) and personal emoluments will cost in a five period D187m plus D9m, bringing the total to D196m house of bureaucrats, untamed, unelected technocrats who for long have perpetrated great disservice to our nation and indeed many African nations. They will encumber the legislative processes with meandering and unending arguments some of which will duplicate the effort of el ected parliamentarians who are responsible to their constituencies. There will be a tendency of intellectual self-indulgence, a pretentious questioning of the proprietorial deliberations of the elected NAMs because of their self-confidence of superior intellect and administrative acumen.
TECHNOCRATS FAILED US BEFORE
Yaya like many African dictators surrounded himself with submissive technocrats who did his bidding and were instrumental and sometimes complicit in his economic pillage. He used, misused, dump and recycle them. There was no shortage because of many technocrats lacked the trust in Allah. While some of them have insatiable love for the prestige and trappings of power that goes with their positions. Consequently, Yaya Jammeh could afford to insult and demean them yet they stay in compliance like some docile cats.
In fact they were the architects, surveyors and supervisors of Yaya’s entire apparatus; scheming and implementing his diabolical and mendacious rampage of our parastatals and institutions. Central Bank, SSHFC, PORTS and GAMTEL, implement to the letter, Yaya’s perpetual programmes of economic loot without remorse. The technocrats who refused his biding were jailed, ostracized or even banished.
Where are the Njogou Bahs, the Saballies to name the few. That’s why I totally questioned the wisdom of Dr Ceesay’s recommendation for president Barrow to surround himself with technocrats. Knowing fully well technocrat singly looted our resources and deposit it in Western counties. They failed African continent since independence. They were the architects and proprietors of many failed economic recovery programmes which caused untold suffering on ordinary people with little economic progress to show for it.
Look at the court of every dictator in Africa, you will find a plethora of willing and supportive reservoir of technocrats. They were the enablers and the strategic architects who entrench and protect the dictatorship.
Look at those who surrounded Eyadema, Paul Biya, life president Yoweri Musevini, the president with the longest name Theodoro Nguema Obiang mbasogo, Robert Mugabe even the most diabolical Sanni Abacha were insulated by technocrats.
Among them were legal, economic, security, Finance and media experts who directed and consolidate the promulgation of draconian laws to usurp the rights of citizens was one the most callous collective and individual betrayal of Africa.
As one expert lamented, when we go to sign loan agreements with African government experts, they hardly scrutinize the small prints and hardly challenge us but the case is different from Asian experts, they challenge us and try arduously to extract the best terms and conditions for their countries. This is because many a time; dictatorships used those loans to enrich themselves and the technocrats they instrumentalize to scavenge for those loans and grants are only front men and women.
They don’t care about the exorbitant cost of the loans to their nations.Albeit we need good technocrats who eschewed Yaya and his evil schemes and remained true to their conscience even at the detriment of their personal safety and economic livelihood. They were the few but had played an invaluable role in bringing the new democratic dispensation. Such men and women of honour are our heroes and history will not forget their unwavering commitment and tenacity in the face of an evil and diabolical dictatorship. Men and women of courage who don’t lick their tongues, gazing at our coffers and partook in the loot by engaging in expensive first-class travels and fat per diem rate race.
The government need a thorough and systematic review of the current constitution by first developing a constitutional framework that will establish the guidelines and principles in future constitutional changes and amendments. If not, the constitution will be exposed to incessant but fleeting changes to tarry with the pollical aspirations of an incumbent government in ways that facilitate their political programmes and entrenched their political hegemony. This is tantamount to “constitutional lubrication” effectively utilised by Yaya Jammeh to entrench his dictatorship.
He had effectively, with the help of technocrats like Fafa Mbye and many other bureaucrats, during the military transition period; conducted a wide range of congenial adaptation of the constitution to favour a military transition to civil government. Subsequent adaptations were conducted to give him powers to dismiss elected parliamentarians and usurp many of our democratic privileges without adequate consultation with the electorate and major stakeholders.
THE NEED FOR BROAD CONSULTATION AND EDUCATION
It seems the Gambian constitution is an elitist constitution, conceived, constructed and written by the elites and for the elites because it hardly contained the aspirations of majority of Gambians who cannot read and write.
This time there should be wide range of consultations by use of the rich media platforms, sensitisation programs in all local languages. We need TV or townhall debate to ensure broader participation and engagement. Most importantly the constitution should encapsulate the broad recommendations of the people unlike the last one in which the 10 years term limit and 40 years minimum age was unceremoniously rejected.
I hope unlike the last constitution, this one too is not a constitution of the elite establishment where a majority of those who will vote and those it will inherently affect hardly understand its contents.
ON THE RELIGIOUS SHERE
My contentious submission is that, the role of Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) should be modernised to encapsulate the new realities and potential religious threat to our society exacerbated by the emergence of Boko Haram and ISIS style ideologies which perpetrated the brutal rampage in some African countries.
The role of SIC in stemming these inherently false ideologies and their menace to the community coherence and religious harmony cannot be overemphasized. Religious minority activities that has the potential to incubate malediction and hatred should be adequately addressed to ensure there is respect for the predominant believes of our people. We don’t want groups to come in the clothing of Christianity to abrade predominant Christian believes and doctrines in ways that create tension and discord.
It should be made clear what type of constitution we are voting for because we were hoodwinked to belief that the last constitution was representatives of the real input of the people whereas it was a secular product which guard minority rights against majority. The impingement of Qadiyani false doctrine on our sunni beliefs, is a case in hand.
I can almost sense the heart thumping and the chirr of the daggers of secular thumpers and frolic human right biblical hot gospellers, screeching for my blood, shouting fundamentalist, Fanatic, Algaeda, Mashallahu. Hang on, secularists, I have stated my position and let’s debate.
Recently, the developed and democratically advance countries have enacted anti-democratic and ati-human rights laws in form of surveillance, outright banning and financial asphyxiation(choking) of various groups including anti-emigrant groups, religious groups and even media groups deemed to be perilous to national security, in some cases economic and pollical interest of their nations. In other words, they find it compellingly imperative to clip the influence, ideology, doctrine and operations of these groups because they pose a threat to civility and peaceful co-existence.
US and indeed UK plus some other nations had reviewed the activities groups like Scientology, the nation of Islam headed by Louis Farakhan and some clandestine groups like English Defence Front, media group like RT, PressTV etc and took effective measures to monitor, police and in some cases ask them to re-registered as Agent of Foreign Government.
These are the democracies we measure ourselves up to. The difference is, they assess risk to harmonious cohabitation, risk to life and property, risk to the preservation of the costly fought democratic dispensation. And they took meaningful steps to address the potential peril that can emanate from the proliferation of such ideologies and evil persuasions. Human rights are human rights but within the rights of the majority. As the Mandinka adage goes, NYO KAANA SOSO FAA, SOSO KAANA NYO FAA (meaning: let the maize not kill the beans and beans not kill the maize) perhaps most poignant is NING KO NYINA YEH EFONYO KUNTUNG KUNTUNGO LA, AFO MAAFEH JAAROO YEH EFONYO SUNKANYO LA(meaning: if you caution the rate from prowling, you should equally ask the dry fish from emitting odour.
CONCLUSION
We need experts and technocrats but not the calibre of technocrats that Yaya instrumentalize in an orgy of economic thievery for the past 22 years. It is manifestly clear that some of them are now metamorphing and rebranding themselves to continue their nefarious schemes with Barrow government. They assumed President Barrow is a novice with little bureaucratic experience. I hope president Barrow and his Cabinet are cognizance of their subtle scheming as some social media like Freedom online paper and others did warned on many occasions.
Finally to institute a second unelected chamber of technocrats to supervise an elected parliament will be undemocratic, cumbersome and expensive.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
Someone might posit, what is your own input. My submission is that there should a provision to deselect underperforming NAM especially those involved in corruption and embezzlement or other immoral activities that scare confidence in their credibility and capacity to function effectively as a constituency representative. A recall can be triggered after a courts action where a NAM has been convicted of some crime or moral abuse. The deselection can also be triggered If the constituency registered voters can elicit a certain number of signatures, perhaps more than half for the eligible voters in the constituency and is certified by the Electoral Commissioner.
After a successful recall, there will be a new elections and the deselected NAM should be barred from contesting.The presidential term should be a two five term of 10 years and no recourse to seeking re-election. The role of Chiefs and Alkalos should be reviewed t make their office less political so that can operate impartially.
In order to avoid proliferation of many small political parties, only four political parties should be accepted to avoid wasteful printing of ballot boxes or ballot papers and political parties must get at least 50,000 voters threshold and D100,000 operating funds in form of cash deposit or treasury bills to qualify for registration.
Finally, if the present is accused of evident corruption and is not impeached by the parliament, he can be sued by the citizens in the supreme court. When the case is scrutinised and admitted for adjudication; the president should vacate his position and clear his or her name. This necessary so that he/she does not use his presidential influence the course of justice. The same should go for Vice president and all cabinet ministers.
To conclude, no minister, president or vice president should be directly or indirectly associated with or have shareholding or economic interest in any business entity especially if that entity’s activities and interest collides with the government’s economic and financial interest.
Lamin Darboe
Leicester
UK
The writer says:
“My contentious submission is that, the role of Supreme Islamic Council (SIC) should be modernised (modernized) to encapsulate the new realities and potential religious threat to our society exacerbated by the emergence of Boko Haram and ISIS style ideologies which perpetrated the brutal rampage in some African countries.
The role of SIC in stemming these inherently false ideologies and their menace to the community coherence and religious harmony cannot be overemphasized. Religious minority activities that has (have) the potential to incubate malediction and hatred should be adequately addressed to ensure there is respect for the predominant believes (beliefs) of our people. We don’t want groups to come in the clothing of Christianity to abrade predominant Christian believes and doctrines in ways that create tension and discord”.
In paragraph 1, the author seems to be on track with the challenges facing West Africa in general. However, in paragraph 2, he goes on his typical tirade against Christians and people of other faiths that are as equally or more decent than the author of the tragic statements. What Supreme Islamic Council I’d ask? A figment of it perhaps?
In this narrative, that largely represents Islamic propaganda in his simple mind, the author appears to be addressing issues of common concern in The Gambia but then further on, he goes on his typical smear campaign that clearly waters down any seemingly sensible messages that may benefit the common endeavor.
I urge readers not to be swayed by folks that are largely bankrolled by Salafis and other Islamic fundamentalists whose primary goal is to counter any attempts at bringing about religious harmony and coexistence but instead shove their unsavory messages down peoples’ throats. This is nothing to do with Imam Malick or Imam Siddique!
The author quotes the Gambian Manding adage, “NYO KAANA SOSSO FAA, SOSSO KAANA NYO FAA”. That is exactly what the writer and his patrons must live by and uphold as a guiding principle in life!! The Gambia has always known religious tolerance with accomplished citizens that benefited from education obtained from secular high schools. What’s happened to selfless giving for the common good that was never in short supply in The Gambia?
Here lies the problem with young fellows hanging out with fundamentalists in houses of worship in the U.K. in particular where funds are discreetly dished out to both willing and unsuspecting folks that volunteer to promote what is clearly an unworthy cause in the name of Islam.
Sadly, most of the younger “Islamists” end up staring at a dead end in their lives. An untenable condition that leads to the wasting of valuable lives over time aside from the immense cost and heartache to modern society.
The question is whether pronouncements of this nature are are seen as fair and fitting in secular society and governance.
We must, as Gambians that embrace religious tolerance, work to counter falsehoods from folks and groups that label anyone that doesn’t agree with their viewpoints, disciples of ABU JAHL. In the words of Ron Reagan Jr, then I am not afraid to burn in hell for there’ll be ample company anyway!
BTW, a cursory look at the author’s picture on the article lends hints to a possible case of diabetes. I’d urge him to find time to seek professional help.
It may also be a case of weight induced diabetes that can be corrected with weight loss alongside a healthy diet.
Andrei
You can hardly express sensible and constructive critism without throwing aspersions or peddling vitriol.
I sense you not a GUNJUR KA because “yoon denyu am yaroo” Yaw deka nyaka yaroo”. Your lips are uncircumcised and uncouth.
I am independently minded and you cannot push me off my trajectory my sheer vitriol and MALLIBALIYA NIN FANLONG BALIYA.
Everything is said in my article is no figment of imagination but a genuine belief base on Sharia.
If you don’t know, I place here thenpeinciples of shatia here.
:
1. The right to the protection of life.
2. The right to the protection of family.
3. The right to the protection of education.
4. The right to the protection of religion.
5. The right to the protection of property (access to resources).
6. The right to the protection of human dignity.
Andrei
Your posting was full absolute lies, I don’t know whether its ignorance or an inherent trait of yours and if it the later, you must seek spiritual guidance to cure your heart off evil rust. Physical disease ends when you leave this world but spiritual disease cause a greater catastrophe in the hereafter. The cure is fire na udhubilahi min zaleeka. Even though you insult and caricature me, I don’t pray for you to endure chastisement on the day of qiyama.
I did not expect any constructive critism from you and i had you in my mind, an inveterate cynic and secular thumpers injected with a fervour of satanic malediction and abominable tendencies, bent on consigning ideas of jahiliya into our communities in guise of modenism and Dajalic prepositions. They willed endear us to become slaves of our desire.
You always go beyond ordinary engagement with your preposterous and licentious remarks designed to induce malcontention into our debate why??.
The mind boggling thing is, you are so cowardly that you cannot reveal your true identity but hide behind mountain of lies, that spurious name of yours. Andrai pajero.
Andrei
I told you wil, we recapture our beach from your chinese masters and their chief surrogates Mr Conteh and you discharge your floric aspersions on me. Check http://www.gunguronline, we kick their nasty asses and dig out the pipe. Next stop, the sand mining site which is an equal if not more environmental menace. Finally, we will burn your brother’s factory into ashes and all the youths will occupy the rooms of the prison with absolute joy, at a relish that history will record us as saviours of gunjur from the rapacious mogul Mr Conteh, a discontent beneficiary of our benevolence.
https://www.gunjur.online/single-post/2018/03/22/Gunjur-revolts-against-Chinese-exploitation-as-Calls-for-head-of-corrupt-MP-intensify
Folks
The writer says:
“My contentious submission is that, the role of Supreme Islamic We don’t want groups to come in the clothing of Christianity to abrade predominant Christian believes and doctrines in ways that create tension and discord”.
In paragraph 1, the author seems to be on track with
Please I ask anyone to read the insinuations here that i was maligning Christians ans read my article so see whether I said any think disconcerting of Christians.
MODERNISE is american spelling please and not comma before that. You know English but you know noy.
Shukran my brother. I totally agree with you. May Allah strenghthen you. I hope they listen to the advices of the likes of you.
From Imam Njie
swayed by folks that are largely bankrolled by Salafis and other Islamic fundamentalists whose primary goal is to counter any attempts at bringing about religious harmony and coexistence but instead shove their unsavory messages down peoples’ throats. This is nothing to do with Imam Malick or Imam Siddique
Please I am neither a salafi nor Mashallahu. I used to me mashallahu for many years but stopped because of some personal reasons.
I belong to no group and i am any ordinary muslim. What I am challenging is the ardent poisonous secularist and pseudo human rights defenders who camouflaged their true intentions. They want to water down our deen and defeat it by creating doubts in our minds. People like Andrei have lethal combination of hypocrisy and insidious hatred for islam. They hate the pristine teaching of adjoining goodness and forbidding evil. Tahmuroona bil mahroof and tan hawnal munkar
Andrei
By the was who is imam Siddique??
I will allow the writer to rant and rave as much as he wants in pursuit of his “Islamist” and Kunjuru FAA DING YAA agenda under which pretext he calls folks that don’t share his point of view “secular thumpers” and “Jaahilolu” and “rapers of the environment”. And when you do quote me or other sources, please put statements in parentheses, as I do, to indicate that they belong to the rightful source Okay!
You also appear to be waging a fight on a different front against folks that you label Technocrats, elites, hypocrites and so called so and so choice words. Please be reminded that the majority of folks that add well earned credentials to their name do so in honor and respect for the hard work that was devoted to EARNING those credentials over the years. You must note that good education doesn’t come cheap anywhere in this modern world. You may take that for granted but I take solace in the fact that most educated folks are calm and measured in their approach to sensible discourse and human relations as opposed to unknown quantities like yourself with no verifiable credentials other than being a muck raking Salaafi and Marshallah!
When your fine brother Ousman Darboe worked with The Gambia Arab-Islamic Bank, he presented himself in good manner and professionalism that befits an educated and well grounded person. I can safely say that he conducts business with professionalism, peace and in harmony with Kunjurians but I can’t say the same for you. So go ahead with calling all folks that embrace secularism and religious freedoms “Abu Jahalists” albeit that you or members of your family may very well have benefited from education offered by a Catholic, Methodist, Ahmadi or other school.
You can’t be taking up valuable space in online media only to spew out what I’d call garbage and in the process, as you put it, “masturbate on your computer keyboard”. Isn’t that statement alone more than irksome? And please keep Alhaji Conteh out of your pronouncements or else you come along as grossly misguided and full of hate for the success of your fellow man. That’s a trait that’s most despised in Islam? Isn’t it? Go back to Sura, Ash Sura for review. The pertinent verse being V.24. I’d quickly add here that I didn’t the study the Qur’an in a FINKINTAY AL QUR’AN KARANGO (Manding) or JANGI SILMAHA (Wollof). I can read, write and interpret the Qur’an not for the object of pleasing “Islamists” or for show purposes but as part of my educational pursuits!
Choose your words and affiliations wisely as you write, young man, for those very words and actions can come back to haunt you later in life. Unless you are squeaky clean, do not work to wear your welcome out in the U.K. Take time to read the fine print on all documents that you may have been issued in according you the privilege of becoming a resident in the U.K.
You are at liberty to subscribe to the national agenda and priorities but you can’t on the same accord, issue veiled threats out to folks that don’t share your viewpoints and/or use that platform, in the safety and distance of Leicester, to promote your hateful “Islamist/Shari’a agenda.
To be clear, my message is that I did promise and also made the commitment that you’ll hear from me whenever you skew your offerings towards hate, intolerance, Salaafism and Shari’a. I will also further commit to putting my money where my heart and mouth are. The Gambia HAS ALWAYS BEEN and STILL IS SECULAR SOCIETY!! The idea of an Islamic state DIED with the banishment of Yaya Jammeh.
As I am writing this piece, I watch with utter pride the young men and women marching and speaking in support of the March For Our Lives movement in the US and I’m thinking that here’s a worthy cause from fine and confident young ones that the hate mongers and peddlers that abound in not so well endowed West Africa can find much value and teachable moments.
I will say on a final note that I will never be caught wallowing in the muck with you as I am beyond that and that what may appear demeaning in your mind is mostly offered in kind humor. Take that to your bank!
ALIMAA KAIRO BONG NA KUNJURU.
Well said Andrew.
I feel sorry for Lamin. He is truly lost, but I feel scared about him, for he is a clear and present danger to the peace, harmony and tranquility of any community he resides. He shows clear signs of an evolving serious mental illness. I pray he gets the help he needs sooner than later. One thing is sure, we will hear from this young man again and again and it does not appear it will end well.
God Help Us.
I have thoroughly read this article and i agree wholeheartedly with the content. in this modern day and age, we are pushed to show respect to people from all walks of life. I see by your username that you are ‘allegedly’ a doctor. I find your comment absolutely disrespectful and you of all people should understand what respect is. if you don’t agree with the content of the article, the best thing to do is to ignore or if you are itching to reply, leave the author with constructive criticism. Targeting the individuals mental state is low, instead leave your thoughts and views respectfully as it is more appreciable. Also by you being a ‘Dr’ you should know from experience that many people around the world suffer from mental health, mocking conditions such as this is absolutely disgusting. so before leaving vile comments like this think what effect it can cause. its people like you that bring disgrace to certain ethnicity and culture.
He writes and I quote, “Mashallahu”.
What’s the “U” doing at the end of the word when you claim to be well versed in the Qur’an and Arabic?
FINKINTAY ALKURAN KARANGO? KODI?
Or that’s your keyboard failing you at your doctor’s office?
You stated the following:
“. People like Andrei have lethal combination of hypocrisy and insidious hatred for islam. They hate the pristine teaching of adjoining goodness and forbidding evil. Tahmuroona bil mahroof and tan hawnal munkar”.
Tell me what’s pristine about your leaning, beliefs and pronouncements?
You see, myself and my honorable sister, Dr Sarr, will work to unravel what’s not a mystery but the falsehood that surround yourself and your fellow Imam Siddiques (Imam Njie) that enabled tyranny in The Gambia for the better part of 22 years.
The fact is that yourself and fellow Imam Siddiques have been carried along the journey as GINAARR YUNU GAADU for too long. So you clearly don’t understand the meaning of earning anything. Be they respect, a decent living or how to free yourselves from the shackles of Salafi hegemony. You can see how naked the other Imam Siddique FATTY and the likes of him have become after setting themselves on a perch with Satan Jammeh in the mistaken belief that they had the government in their corner. And it doesn’t end there. The MENTENG PORTI KENSENGO a.k.a SADAA DAANO/SARAHHTU will follow.
That leads me to believe that the hapless Imam Siddiques don’t quite understand what our elders meant by what’s in Manding, SOTTO, FIRINGO VS BARAKO or AMM VS TEKI/BARRKEH in Wolof.
You can go on your rants hoping to wear me down in typical fashion but I will, going forward, adopt a deliberate and pin point approach to undressing the Imam Siddique that will be your alter ego going forward.
I will finish with a reminder that Kombo KEBAALU always prayed, ALIMAA SUTURO SABATINDILA JANG and for good reason too!!
No insults on my part you will note.
I have thoroughly read this article and i agree wholeheartedly with the content. in this modern day and age, we are pushed to show respect to people from all walks of life. I see by your username that you are ‘allegedly’ a doctor. I find your comment absolutely disrespectful and you of all people should understand what respect is. if you don’t agree with the content of the article, the best thing to do is to ignore or if you are itching to reply, leave the author with constructive criticism. Targeting the individuals mental state is low, instead leave your thoughts and views respectfully as it is more appreciable. Also by you being a ‘Dr’ you should know from experience that many people around the world suffer from mental health, mocking conditions such as this is absolutely disgusting. so before leaving vile comments like this think what effect it can cause. its people like you that bring disgrace to certain ethnicity and culture.
You might have heard of the term ‘HATER’ that is directly linked to the noun COWARD. That perfectly describes what both ‘dr’ isatou sarr and andrew are. By targeting an individual at least have the courage and the audacity to show your identity. Its hard to take the words seriously of a person that intentionally disrepects another whilst hiding behind a computer screen.
its extremely ironic that ‘dr’ sarr is , once again’allegedly’ a doctor. As the reality is you yourself need a doctor.
also by assuming an individual has diabetes and mocking such conditions potrays that you yourself is insecure and has low self esteem and relish in mocking others. Both of you seem to be bubbling with hate , my advice is learn to love yourself instead of relishing in mockery and disrespect
f
Andrei
Mandinka say NIN EDUNTA MALIBALI KULUNGO LA EKATA IFANJE JELEFENG TENDA.
Debate with decorum and don’t be Saitan, KOCHO KOCHOLA MUNAFIKI BA
The massalahu is a local nomenclature and thats what I repeated. Classical Arabic will be MASHALLAH. Even Mashallahu is correct because the “U” denotes a “Faa il” meaning the subject or the “Doer”. The person who did the action but you are pausing. on “U” so you have to nasalise it by rule of tajjwid and pronounce “Masshallah”. Please don’t challenge me on the Quran because I am studentbof Qur’an while you glorify money, money, money and the rejoice in flavour of mundane endowments.
Quran
If you want to retaliate, retaliate to the same degree as the injury done to you. But if you are patient, it is better to be so.
( Quran 16:126)
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 33:
وَلَوْلَا أَن يَكُونَ النَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَاحِدَةً لَّجَعَلْنَا لِمَن يَكْفُرُ بِالرَّحْمَٰنِ لِبُيُوتِهِمْ سُقُفًا مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَمَعَارِجَ عَلَيْهَا يَظْهَرُونَ
And were it not that all mankind would have become of one community (all disbelievers, desiring worldly life only), We would have provided for those who disbelieve in the Most Beneficent (Allah), silver roofs for their houses, and elevators (and stair-ways, etc. of silver) whereby they ascend,
(English – Mohsin Khan)
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 34:
وَلِبُيُوتِهِمْ أَبْوَابًا وَسُرُرًا عَلَيْهَا يَتَّكِئُونَ
And for their houses, doors (of silver), and thrones (of silver) on which they could recline,
(English – Mohsin Khan)
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 35:
وَزُخْرُفًا وَإِن كُلُّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمَّا مَتَاعُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةُ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And adornments of gold. Yet all this (i.e. the roofs, doors, stairs, elevators, thrones etc. of their houses) would have been nothing but an enjoyment of this world. And the Hereafter with your Lord is only for the Muttaqun.
(English – Mohsin Khan)
Surah Az-Zukhruf, Verse 36:
وَمَن يَعْشُ عَن ذِكْرِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ نُقَيِّضْ لَهُ شَيْطَانًا فَهُوَ لَهُ قَرِينٌ
And whosoever turns away (blinds himself) from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allah) (i.e. this Quran and worship of Allah), We appoint for him Shaitan (Satan – devil) to be a Qarin (an intimate companion) to him.
(English – Mohsin Khan)
Worldly endowment are valuable if used to earn the pleasure of Allah, otherwise it is useless at the time of death which is an unavoidable eventuality.