Who is "those who were followed" referring to?

Imām Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) summarized the scholars' opinions in his book "Zād al-Masīr" as follows:

1. They are the leaders. (Ibn ʿAbbās, Abū al-ʿĀliyah, Qatādah, Muqātil, al-Zajjāj]
2. They are the devils. (al-Suddī)