Ummah

Is there an authentic narration in which the Prophet (SAW) says that the scholars of the Ummah are superior to the earlier Prophets? Seyed Saied Alavi	Why do we Muslims consider ourselves to be Shia and Sunni? Why can't we live united as one Ummah? Amina Inloes
I understand that the Qur'an does not make any mention of either Shia or Sunni and warns the Muslims against dividing into sects. If that is correct then how come the Islamic Ummah has got divided into these two broad sects? Rebecca Masterton	If there is a Mahdi present in this era then why is he not acting against injustice and defending the Ummah against cruelty? Zoheir Ali Esmail