What is the ruling on subscribing for a fixed amount to websites that allow the customer to obtain additional services and features, such as free shipping or discount offers before non-subscribers?

It is forbidden to subscribe to the "Amazon Prime" service due to the presence of Jahalah (uncertainty), Gharar (definition) (deception/excessive risk), and gambling. This is because the subscriber pays a sum of money to obtain free or discounted shipping whose true nature and quantity are unknown, and they may not benefit from it at all. This falls under Bay' al-Gharar (transaction involving excessive uncertainty), which is prohibited.

Furthermore, this subscription falls under the ruling of gambling due to the presence of a definite loss (the paid subscription) and a potential gain (benefiting from discounts). This is the very essence of Maysir (definition) (gambling), which Islamic law has forbidden. The Islamic Fiqh Academy has issued a resolution prohibiting the issuance or purchase of discount cards for a fixed price or an annual subscription for the same reason. This was also the fatwa (definition) of the two Sheikhs, Ibn Baz and Ibn Uthaymeen.