He was the first important Muslim leader to advocate the partition of India and the creation of a separate Muslim state. As a result of his Allahabad address in 1930 when he put forward this view, separatism was seriously considered by many Muslims during the 1930s. He was also opposed to the British control of India – conquest of others was wrong and went against the Muslim faith. This strengthened his view that Muslims should have a separate homeland, independent of the British. He persuaded many Muslims that the Muslim League had to build an effective mass political party to challenge the domination of the Congress. This argument was adopted by Jinnah who went on to lead the Muslim League as a highly effective political party. His poetry awakened a sense of nationhood among Muslims and he urged them to be active in making progress. This progress needed to be along a distinctive Islamic path and not capitalist in nature. Again this vision was adopted by Muslims as a view of the future. Rehmat Ali.
In 1933 he and some fellow students produced a pamphlet called ‘Now or Never’ in which he argued in favour of partition and gave the name Pakistan to this new Muslim state that would be formed. This became popular amongst most Muslims during the 1930s. His views were different from AI as he wanted a separate independent state whereas AI wanted just a separate state. However, Ali did attract his critics, especially as he criticised many Muslim leaders especially Jinnah and as such was viewed as less important a figure. He attacked him over abandoning Muslim communities in such places as Delhi as well as accepting a divided Bengal. He was also considered less important than Iqbal since Jinnah took up many of his ideas whereas he refused to meet Ali, but nevertheless his views were adopted eventually.
I have got this answer from GCE ‘O’ LEVEL Pakistan Studies (2059) Paper 1 The History and Culture of Pakistan
