Back-biting...? =/

[Ghazalah]

AssalamuAlaykum. Hope every one is in the best of imaan and health inshAllah.

If I was in a group and they were back-biting, even though I myself do not contribute to the back-biting will I be held accountable also? I've heard this in quite a few talks and I thought of this ayah And why did you not, when you heard it, say? "It is not right of us to speak of this: Glory to God, this is a most serious slander" (24:16)but it doesn't mention being sinned if you do not speak against it? can anyone help me on this?

If indeed people do get sinned then what about if you hear other people back-biting, but you're not necessarily with them? Like today for example, I was at gym changing in the cubicle and outside there were a few girls who were back-biting but I didn't know them personally in fact I'd never seen them before, this issue immediately came up and I thought do I need to tell them to shush or would I get sinned? I quickly put my headphones on and got changed and rushed away

JazakumAllahu Khairan in advance.

[GuestFellow]

Waliakum Salaam,

I'm not sure. I don't tend to listen to other people conversations but of course, this can happen unintentionally. I remember in a classroom environment, some students were talking about how dumb one student is and I said that it is not kind to back-bite. If you have something to say, say it to their face or don't say anything at all.

[Innocent Soul]

Walaikumassalam

this issue immediately came up and I thought do I need to tell them to shush or would I get sinned?

I think we should say the people whom we know personally first .
Here are some tips how to say them.

http://www.productivemuslim.com/prac...ime-in-gossip/