Akika is an animal that is slaughtered as a token of gratitude for the birth of a child. Akika mustahab. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said : So sacrifice on his behalf and remove his 'rubbish' (ie scratch his hair). (Sahih Bukhari 2/622) It is better to do Akika on the seventh day of birth. If it is not possible on the seventh day, it is better to do it on the 14th or 21st day. Because these three days are mentioned in Hadith Sharif. If this is not done in three days then Akika can be done any day later. Hazrat Buraida agreed. Narrated from , Rasulullah ﷺ Irshad , the animal of Akika will be slaughtered on the seventh or fourteenth or twenty-first day. (Almuzamul Awsat 5/456) If it is a son, it is better to have two and if it is a girl child, it is better to have a goat / sheep / dumba. However, in the case of a son, even if a sacrifice is made, Akika's right will be realized. Akika can also be done by camels , buffaloes , cows etc. Hazrat Umm Kuraz agreed. He said that when Rasulullah (saw) was asked about Akika, he said that he would slaughter two goats on behalf of his son and one goat on behalf of his daughter. (Jame Tirmidhi 1/173) Hazrat Anas Razi. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said : Whoever gives birth to a child should do so with a camel , a cow or a goat. (Almuzamul Awsat 2/361) Akika's meat can be eaten by parents and other relatives, rich and poor alike. Hazrat Ayesha agreed. Said , ( Akikar meat) will eat himself , feed others and give charity. (Mustadrake Hakeem 5/336) Nowhere in the hadith is there any evidence of giving aqeeqah to someone after his death. So it should be refrained from. Yes , if it is given for the purpose of thawab in Isal , then it is presumed that there is a chance.