What is the difference between the Mu'azzilah, the Asha'irah, and the Murji'ah?

The questioner:
May Allah reward you, Your Eminence, father. The questioner asks: What is the difference between the Mu'azzilah, the Asha'irah, and the Murji'ah?

The Shaykh:
My brother, the matter is clear. The Murji'ah, what do they say here? The Murji'ah, this is in the issue of faith and disbelief. What is the meaning here? The issue of faith and disbelief and open sinfulness in actions, in major sins, the people of major sins. As for the difference between the Mu'azzilah and what?

The questioner:
He says: May Allah reward you. What is the difference between the Mu'azzilah and the Asha'irah?

The Shaykh:
The Mu'azzilah are those who say, "We do not know their meaning; we refer it to Allah." The Asha'irah say, "We do not know their meaning, and as for what is not apparent, we interpret it to another meaning." They claim knowledge of the meaning, but they say it is not what appears from the wording; rather, it has another meaning that we know. Yes.