For women married to muslims did you accept the dowry?

i've been told that we as american women also have this right,i would not want this knowing he is poor.on the other hand i can see why it would be important to a muslima .

Yes I did.
I am American and Muslim.
I think from your question that maybe you are not Muslim (since you said 'we as American women)? Christian and Jewish women still have the right to the dowry when they are marrying a Muslim man.
It is required he give it but you can forgo the dowry if you choose! It is a personal matter and it is also your right to refuse it/give it back to him as long as you do it of your will completely.
The dowry is not just cash. If he gives you any gift for the marriage (clothing, jewelry including an engagement ring) this is part of the dowry.

yes I did..
I am american-saudi..
my mother on the other hand is 100% white american women, who married my father a saudi.. 30 some odd years ago.. They didnt want a huge wedding celebration nor dowry since they wanted a nice honeymoon vacation.. She accepted all of about 50$ from him at the time.. They then went onto having a wonderful honeymoon..

Technically in Islam I think you have to have a dowry for the wedding contract to be complete (I've never heard of somebody not having a dowry or rejecting it, even non-muslims). It can be the smallest thing, maybe a ring or he can teach you something -- he'll probably give you a Moroccan style dress for the wedding.

You should ask this in R&S, you will probably get more answers.

I did because it was so important to him and his family and it was a required part of our marriage contract. I didn't want to, but once I understood the significance of it, I accepted.

Yes my Representative told me I should request a dowry from my husband so I did and my husband gave me $100 for my dowry. A dowry is very important to the bride to be and it is a must in Islam that the husband give his wife a dowry before he lays with her or marries her.

Yes, it is a part of the contract.

What a very good question. I have thought about this because I know it is custom to give the bride a dowry, but I wasn't aware it could be jewelry, such as the engagment ring. My fiance and his family are not poor, but they don't have a lot and he has nothing. I didn't know if it would be an insult to them not to accept a dowry or not. Now I know that the simple giving up the engagment ring is enough, which is the only material thing I want from him anway. Wow I think I learn something new everyday I come to this section.