On the phrase "loyalty to the homeland"

Q: Some people exaggerate by saying that the phrase "loyalty to the homeland" is a form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) in an Islamic country whose people owe their loyalty to Allah. What is your view, Your Eminence, on this matter?
A: It is obligatory to have loyalty to Allah and His Messenger, meaning that the servant should support others for the sake of Allah and oppose them for the sake of Allah. It may be that his homeland is not Islamic, so how can he have loyalty to it? But if his homeland is Islamic, he must wish for its good and strive for it, but loyalty is to Allah. For whoever among the Muslims is obedient to Allah is His close friend (wali), and whoever opposes the religion of Allah is His enemy, even if he is from the people of his homeland, or his brother, or his uncle, or his father, or the like. Thus, support is for the sake of Allah, and opposition is for the sake of Allah.
As for the homeland, it is loved if it is Islamic. A person should encourage good in his homeland and strive for it to remain Islamic, and he should work for the stability of its conditions and its people. This is the obligation of all Muslims. We ask Allah for success, guidance, and the rectification of intention and deeds for us, for you, and for all Muslims. May Allah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and his Companions.