The incident took place on the northbound carriageway between junctions 29a and 30 in Derbyshire just after 6am.
Officials closed the busy motorway from junction 29 northbound while emergency services worked to clear the carriageway.
Derbyshire Police warned rush hour drivers of "significant tailbacks" and 50-minute delays.
Five people were described as the "walking wounded" after they were injured in the multi-car crash, but the injuries are not thought to be life-threatening. 
A police spokesman said: “One lane of the M1 northbound between junctions 29a and 30 is now open following an earlier collision but traffic is still heavy in the area.
“We were called to the area at around 5.50am today (Thursday, November 30).
“A broken down lorry was struck by another vehicle and a short time later, several other vehicles collided on the same stretch.
“No one suffered serious injuries but it will take time to remove all the debris.
Five people were left injured after a crash on the M1
“Witnesses or anyone with information should call us on 101 quoting incident 88 of today.”
One lane of four was reopened shortly after 8am.
A broken down car has also contributed to the traffic chaos on the major motorway.
It broke down between junction 28 for Alfreton and Mansfield and junction 29 for Chesterfield.
The road was reopened at 9am.