in december 1938 while on tour to promote his translation, ali helped to open the al-rashid mosque, the third mosque in north america, in edmonton, alberta, canada. in 1947 ali was among many indians who returned to india after independence to take up political posts. however, for him the move was not a success and he returned to london where he became increasingly frail in mind and body, living in isolation ignored by both his family and the british establishment who no longer had a use for him. of no fixed abode, ali spent most of the last decade of his life either living in the national liberal club, in the royal commonwealth society or wandering about the streets of london and living in poverty despite having £20,578 16s 3d in the bank. on 9 december 1953 ali was found destitute and in a bewildered condition in a doorway in westminster by the police who took him to westminster hospital. he was discharged the following day and was taken in by a london county council home for the elderly in dovehouse street in chelsea. here he suffered a heart attack on 10 december and was rushed to st stephen's hospital in fulham where he died alone the same day.