Is FAQIRS a valid word?

FAQIRS is the plural of FAQIR, a Muslim ascetic who lives on alms, also spelled FAKIR or FAKEER. At six letters with the Q in the middle, it is a play that uses most of a rack while getting rid of the hardest tile. If FAQIR is already on the board, one S makes FAQIRS and counts the Q again, and the S can start a crossing word for even more points. Travelers' tales from India and Persia made the word familiar in English centuries ago, usually spelled with a K.

Before any bonus squares: F 4 + A 1 + Q 10 + I 1 + R 1 + S 1 = 18. On a double-word square that's 36, on a triple-word 54, and every letter bonus under one of these tiles is applied first.

Later in the game, put the Q on a 3L square and FAQIRS is worth 38 before any word bonus.

Swap any one letter of FAQIRS and these are still words:

No other word in the list uses exactly the letters F, A, Q, I, R and S.

FAQIRS is the plural of FAQIR, a Muslim holy man. Same idea as FAKIRS, spelled with a Q.

• Q without U

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