This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Saturday, September 26, 2026 (8 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Saturday puzzles are the hardest of the week and themeless, so clues are often deliberately misleading.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
A _ _
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About the answer
ALI as a word: A male given name from Arabic; (Islam) The Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib, considered by Shias to be Muhammad's first successor (imam).
ALI has been an answer 21 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since November 30, 2025.
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