Do I have to believe 100% of Islam to convert?

I am studying Islam and have learned a lot. I think it is beautiful and I want to convert. I know that I do NOT know everything or understand everything yet, but I am learning. I have some questions about the things I have learned though and I wonder if I can convert to Islam if I do not immediately believe everything I learn through Islam.
For example, I grew up in the US and learned about evolution in school. I know that Muslims do not believe in evolution. I am confused about this and really do not know what to believe right now on this point.
Also, I still have SO much to learn about Islam.
I think Islam is very beautiful and very significant for me but I worry that I will not be a good Muslim if I do not believe every point 100%.
Does this mean I should not convert?
Your advice is greatly appreciated. Peace be upon you.

Welcome to the Forum, full of good people who are never dull and boring.

And I COMPLETELY underderstand what you are saying� and the point you are at. I a remember those days before I did my Shahada.. and even for a couple of years after� can I  du this right if I don�t �agree� or �understand� all of the aspects of Islam. Some things were confusing... people and their actions are confusing.. it can be hard to distinguish.  It took me about four years to  reach a certain level of understanding.. not only of certain aspects but the mindset as well. It had taken ne three years to tell family and friends. Less for fear of negative reaction as much as I am a very private person.

Many people raised in Islam can explain the basics, give you a Quran etc. But often there are many aspects in which they are not qualified to explain. Neither am I. And to internalize Islam takes time. Years I think. As mentioned doing the Shahada is about the basic beliefs that Minuteman wrote about. It is the central tenant of Islam.

Some stuff I don�t completely understand but so be it.. its funny.. we all have things we focus on. They have books and books on the Quran and Hadiths� it is lifetime of learning. And unless we have days and days free we can only learn so much at one time.

My explanation for the Shahada is this� I take karate.. and doing the Shahada is sigining up for classes.. you are not expected to be a black belt is skill (prayer performance, etc), knowledge (wisdom and inner connection, purity of the heart). This takes years of study and understanding. You progress at the level of your energy, abilities, etc. And once you get a black belt (decent level of understanding and practice of Islam) there is a lifetime of learning and growing. So you sign up and you begin. There is no prescribed time line and outward measure. The measure is in your actions and what is in your heart.

Islam is about your relationship to Allah- Your Creator, to whom you will return to one day. How can you make that the central focus of your life? The Prophet Mohammed (SAAW) is our model.  

Another aspect to remember is that many people are not understanding of your position. WE are all shaped by our culture.. the good and not so good. Often this is a mindset. And t he best people to be around are people who are able to be encouraging but not pushy and those who have the ability to put themselves in your shoes as you struggle. For all people struggle on one level or another.. but to have helpful and thoughtful advice, it take people who can empathize, and this is not all reverts to say the least.  Some are quite rigid�. It is person to person.

Along in my journey of the past several years there were things I would read or hear about and they would cause me internal �angst,� things that made me uncomfortable or uncertain. The �reasoning� seemed quite foreign to me. It would take long conversations with knowledgeable people for me to understand the in and outs and the �whys.� Yes it is different then how I was raised. Not just in a western sense but by my particular family.  I had to work to see the value and good. And this would be hard as because rather than use the Prophet (SAAWS) as the model, one looks at people who abuse a particular notion or system. But that reflects upon them as people.

An excellent place to gain knowledge is through Zaytuna Institute. They put out excellent publications and have on-line classes. What I really like about them is that they talk and understand western people. Sheik Hamza Yusuf is a revert scholar who is education in Middle East and Africa.    An excellent publication  and CD is called Purification of the Heart.  http://www.zaytuna.org/

Where do you live? How did you come to learn about Islam?

Ok enough by me..

Hayfa