Doing Things for the Sake of Allah

the prophet, may allah exalt his mention, would always do deeds through which he would seek the pleasure of allah. he was harmed and abused when he invited and called people to islam; yet he was patient and endured all of this, and hoped for the reward of allah. abdullah b. masood, with whom allah is pleased, said:

'it is as though i am looking at the prophet, may allah exalt his mention, talking about a prophet who was hurt by his people. he wiped the blood from his face and said: 'o allah! forgive my people, for they know not!'  (bukhari #3290)

jundub b. sufyaan, with whom allah is pleased, said that the messenger's finger bled during one of the battles, and he said:

'you are but a finger which has bled; which suffers in the path of allah.'  (bukhari #2648)