IN his article ‘Xmas and the city’ (Jan 3) F.S. Aijazuddin has praised the way Dubai has been developing, as also its tolerant, multi-ethnic and multi -religious character that enables people from diverse faiths to intermingle on festive occasions, such as Christmas (Jan 3).

At the end, he concludes by saying: “One is tempted to ask, if God had intended to invent Dubai, why did He bother to create such a disorderly world?”

This is an invalid argument, as may be seen from the reasoning that follows. When I happened to visit Switzerland, I was struck not just by its beautiful landscape but also its cleanliness and the pretty houses that had appeared to be taken out of some showcase and placed all over the country.

Similarly, there have been some other noteworthy cities encountered by me across the world that were outstanding.

In contrast, sadly, there are slums in most nations that are an eyesore, with some even having open drains with an awful smell that may be unbearable for a visitor not accustomed to such things.

The exquisite and the grotesque inhabitations are all the creations of human beings rather than God.

The Almighty had placed Adam and Eve in Heaven, but falling prey to a temptation caused their externment to earth. What we humans build or destroy over here is our own doing.

Why blame God for any disorder or unseemliness that exists in this world?

K. PERWAIZ     Karachi