Abu Hurayrah and His Funny Ablution

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 837:

Online link: http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/h...tml#007.072.837

Narrated Abu Zur'a:


l entered a house in Medina with Abu Huraira, and he saw a man making pictures at the top of the house. Abu Huraira said, "I heard Allah's Apostle saying that Allah said, 'Who would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of My creatures? Let them create a grain: let them create a gnat.' "Abu Huraira then asked for a water container and washed his arms up to his armpits. I said, "0 Abu i Huraira! Is this something you have heard I from Allah's Apostle?" He said, "The limit for ablution is up to the place where the ornaments will reach on the Day of Resurrection.'

My question to our Sunni brothers who call us to follow people like Abu Hurayrah. How are we to balance this bid'ah of his with the Sunnah?