In a method for operating an internal combustion engine using exhaust gas purification system, and internal combustion engine, the method for operating an internal combustion engine with exhaust gas purification system, in which a rich mode of the internal combustion engine with a rich exhaust gas composition and a lean mode of the internal combustion engine with a lean exhaust gas composition are set alternately, and by the exhaust gas purification system with a rich exhaust gas composition ammonia is synthesized and stored and with a lean exhaust gas composition nitrogen oxides are reduced to form nitrogen by means of the stored ammonia. The quantity of fuel which is introduced by a combustion cycle of the internal combustion engine is introduced by at least one preinjection, at least one main injection and at least one afterinjection, the at least one preinjection and the at least one main injection are burnt under excess oxygen in order to generate a quantity of nitrogen oxides which is sufficient for the ammonia synthesis, and a rich or lean exhaust gas composition is set by the at least one afterinjection. The method may be used, for example, for exhaust gas purification in motor vehicle diesel engines.