q-a-i-d
QAID is an Islamic judge or magistrate who administers religious law. Also spelled QADI or CADI, this Arabic-origin word is invaluable in Scrabble as a Q-without-U word worth 14 base points.
14
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
QAID (also spelled QADI or CADI) is a judge in Islamic countries who administers religious law, particularly Sharia law. The qaid serves as both a religious scholar and judicial authority, making decisions on matters ranging from family disputes to criminal cases based on Islamic jurisprudence.
Key aspects of a qaid's role include:
In Scrabble and word games, QAID is particularly valuable as one of the essential Q-without-U words. With Q worth 10 points, it's a strategic word that allows players to use the high-value Q tile without needing the often scarce U. This makes QAID a must-know word for competitive players.
QAID comes from the Arabic word قاضي (qāḍī), which means "judge" or "one who decides." The root verb قضى (qaḍā) means "to judge," "to decide," or "to decree."
The word entered English through multiple paths during the medieval period when Islamic civilization had extensive contact with Europe, particularly through:
The spelling variations (QAID, QADI, CADI) reflect different transliteration systems from Arabic to Latin script. The "Q" represents the Arabic letter ق (qaf), which has no exact English equivalent but is closer to a deep "k" sound produced in the throat.
Qaid courts - Religious courts where Islamic law is administered, found throughout the Muslim world from Morocco to Indonesia.
Chief Qaid - In some Islamic judicial systems, a senior judge who oversees other qaids and handles appeals.
Qaid al-Qudat - "Judge of Judges," the highest judicial position in classical Islamic governance.
Ottoman Qaid - Judges in the Ottoman Empire who combined religious law with imperial decrees.
•QAID is one of the most valuable 4-letter Q-without-U words in Scrabble
•Q-without-U words come mainly from Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, and Inuit languages
•Historically, qaids needed to memorize the entire Quran and study Islamic law for years
•The position of qaid dates back to the 7th century during the early Islamic caliphates
•Playing QAID on a triple letter score for the Q yields 30 points just for that tile
"The qaid rendered his judgment based on centuries of Islamic jurisprudence."
"In medieval Damascus, the chief qaid was second only to the sultan in judicial authority."
"She played QAID using the Q from QUICK, scoring 42 points with the triple word score."
"Learning Q-without-U words like QAID transformed his Scrabble game completely."
Pronunciation: It's pronounced "KAH-dee" not "KWAYD" - the Q represents an Arabic sound.
Spelling Variants: QAID and QADI are both valid, but QUAID is a different word entirely.
Q Placement: Don't waste the Q on a regular square - aim for letter multipliers.
Forgetting Plurals: QADIS is valid and adds an S for extra points and flexibility.