وأهل السنة، الذين نذكرهم أهل الحق، ومن عداهم فأهل البدعة، فإنهم: الصحابة رضي الله عنهم، وكل من سلك نهجهم من خيار التابعين رحمة الله عليهم، ثم أصحاب الحديث ومن تبعهم من الفقهاء جيلًا فجيلًا إلى يومنا هذا، ومن اقتدى بهم من العوام في شرق الأرض وغربها رحمة الله عليهم
And Ahl Al-Sunnah, those whom we will mention, are the people of Truth, and those who oppose them are the people of innovation, [and so Ahl Al-Sunnah] are: The Sahabah, radhi Allahu 'anhum, and everyone who walked their path among the Tabi'in, may Allah's Mercy be upon them, thereafter the Ashab Al-Hadith as well as those who followed them among the Fuqaha', generation after generation until our time today, along with the common Muslims who emulated them in the east of the earth and the west, may Allah's Mercy be upon them.
—Al-Hafith Ibn Hazm rahimahu Allah, Al-Fisal Fil Milal Wal-Ahwaa' Wal-Nihal, 2/p. 113, publ. Dar Al-Ma'rifah