There are large parts of the world where women are still deprived of equality and basic human rights. In some countries women were deprived till last year from the right of driving a car and in some others she has still not the freedom of contraception, freedom of abortion or freedom of education. Nevertheless, in general, the 20th century was a milestone for women achieving their basic human rights such as to vote, to inherit, to divorce, to marry, to work, to own property, to abort and to have equal access to education.
All these rights which Western women just received in the last century, Islam in fact had already bestowed upon women in the seventh century – but some parts of the world either simply rejected them or some others with the time did not apply them anymore. 1400 years ago there was no need for women to demonstrate in the streets, to appeal to governments or political organisations or to implore men for equal rights because God Himself declared the equal status of women with the advent of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) – the founder of Islam. 
From the beginning of the advent of Islam, women received the right to inherit, to work, to independently own property, to marry without consent, to divorce, to remarry, to vote – simply to have all the rights as men. In contradiction to some other religions, Islam clearly condemns the belief that woman have been created from the ribs of man or that a woman is the origin of sin. Islam teaches men and women - despite being created differently and having different responsibilities in society – they are nonetheless completely equal in terms of spiritual, intellectual and social status as mentioned in the Holy Quran: “Just as men have rights upon women, so do women have rights upon men.”  (Ch.2:Vs.229)
In fact, in Islam men and women are not just equal but women are also considered as exemplary role models such as the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ (peace be upon him), who has been mentioned due to her chastity and loyalty towards God as a role model not just for Muslim women but also for Muslim men. Furthermore, the first person who accepted Islam was a woman and it was also a woman who the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) recommended as a great teacher and scholar of the Islamic faith. 

Further elevating the status of women, Islam has attributed paradise to be underneath the feet of mothers, which means that the kindness and respect towards your mother is the bridge towards attaining paradise in this world and the hereafter. According to Islam, women are nation builders and hence play a key role in the reformation and development of societies. Therefore, Muslim men are commanded to treat women with utmost respect, tenderness and kindness as the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared: 
“The best among you is he who is best towards his wife.”
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad – the founder of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and in who we believe as the Promised Messiah – elaborates further the high status of women: 
“How can one claim to be pious when he does not behave well towards his wife? He can be only good and pious to others if he behaves well towards his wife.”

Now, some may indeed object that they do not find the Muslim countries of today implementing these rights and status of women. However, the allegation of denying women’s rights cannot be pinpointed to the teachings of Islam but rather is a more political and cultural debate. It is entirely correct that there is a difference between secular culture and Islamic philosophy. Islam is a religion based on human nature that assigns rights according to the intrinsic disposition of man and woman and according to their respective capabilities. No one can claim that the Islamic teachings eliminate the rights and equality of women as evidently, the rights that Islam granted her was something completely revolutionary and advanced. The fact that Islam gave these rights and equal status to women in the seventh century, which unfortunately was nothing but a dream for the Western woman until the last century, it clearly shows us that true Islam is a strong defender of women´s rights and equality.