Short answer
No. Islam asks you to pray to God (﷾) alone, and to call on Him directly. Taoist temples honour the Three Pure Ones, the Jade Emperor and many other gods. Laozi is honoured as Lord Lao, one of the Three Pure Ones. A popular Taoist book teaches that spirits record people's wrongs and report them to the court of Heaven. Islam agrees every deed is written down. But it says the Judge is God Himself, and He hears every caller. God (﷾) says, "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)". He is nearer to you than your jugular vein, so call on Him yourself. All intercession belongs to Him, and comes only by His leave. Those called on besides Him cannot answer or help. Islam says this without insult: the Qur'an forbids Muslims to revile what others call on. Worship belongs to the One God (﷾), who has no partner.
Full explanation
Whom Taoist temples honour
Taoist temples honour the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), the highest Taoist gods. They are shown as three great images, each with a high heavenly title. Laozi (Lao-tze), the teacher to whom the Tao Te Ching is credited, is honoured as Lord Lao (Taishang Laojun). He is counted among the Three Pure Ones. He was worshipped as a god under the Han dynasty. Rites were held for him in 165 and 166, one of them in the imperial palace. James Legge, a scholar of the Taoist books, wrote in 1891. In his day the Jade Emperor (Yuhuang; Legge writes Yü Hwang) had largely overshadowed the Three Pure Ones in popular worship. In Legge's account he sits in the court of Heaven.
Legge describes the Three Pure Ones of Taoism as represented by three great images, each given a high celestial title. He says the Jade Emperor (Yü Hwang) has largely overshadowed them as an object of popular worship. He is the one in the court of Heaven to whom the spirits of the body and of the hearth, in the Kan Ying Pien, go at set times to report men's conduct.
Pregadio writes that Laozi became a god under the name Laojun (Lord Lao) during the Han dynasty. In 165 and 166, rites were held for him at his supposed birthplace, and in 166 Emperor Huan held a ceremony in his honour in the imperial palace. As a god, Lord Lao is described as personifying the Dao (the Tao). The supreme Taoist gods are the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), each ruling one heaven; one of them, Daode tianzun, is another name of the deified Laozi. The wider pantheon includes people of the past who were made gods, such as Mazu, a woman of the late tenth century honoured as the protector of sailors.
A Taoist book on the record of deeds
A much-loved Taoist tract is the Kan Ying Pien (Taishang Ganying Pian), "The Tractate of Actions and Their Retributions". Its author is unknown. Legge dates it to the Song dynasty, around the eleventh century. It is a later morality book, not the teaching of the Tao Te Ching. It lists good and bad deeds, urges people to do good, and ends by calling them to repent. It says spirits within the body go up to the court of Heaven, and "report men's deeds of guilt and transgression". The spirit of the Hearth does the same each month. In Legge's account, the Jade Emperor is the one they report to.
“There also are the three Spirits of the recumbent body which reside within a man's person. As each kang-shan day comes round, they forthwith ascend to the court of Heaven, and report men's deeds of guilt and transgression. On the last day of the moon, the spirit of the Hearth does the same.”
Legge says no one knows who wrote the Kan Ying Pien. He says it appears to have been written under the Song dynasty, and he refers it to the eleventh century. It is a popular tract, printed in countless editions. It sets out good and bad actions, describes how men's deeds are recorded and repaid, and closes by urging repentance. It does not carry reward and punishment beyond death: what is not completed in this life passes to a person's descendants.
Legge describes the Three Pure Ones of Taoism as represented by three great images, each given a high celestial title. He says the Jade Emperor (Yü Hwang) has largely overshadowed them as an object of popular worship. He is the one in the court of Heaven to whom the spirits of the body and of the hearth, in the Kan Ying Pien, go at set times to report men's conduct.
The common ground: every deed is written
Islam agrees that our deeds are recorded. The Qur'an speaks of two angels, one on the right and one on the left. "Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it)." These angels are "Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds)". On the Day of Judgment each person is shown his own record and told, "Read thine (own) record". So the Taoist reader and the Muslim share a sense that nothing we do is lost.
“Behold, two (guardian angels) appointed to learn (his doings) learn (and noted them), one sitting on the right and one on the left. Not a word does he utter but there is a sentinel by him, ready (to note it).”
“But verily over you (are appointed angels) to protect you,- Kind and honourable,- Writing down (your deeds): They know (and understand) all that ye do.”
“Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open. (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."”
Where Islam differs: the Judge hears you directly
In the tract, spirits carry a report upward to a court. Islam too teaches that angels go up to God (﷾). The Prophet (ﷺ) said that God (﷾) asks them about His servants, though He knows them best. But no one prays to the angels or makes offerings to them. They are "servants raised to honour", who "offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable". The Judge is God Himself, the Creator of all. He says, "I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me". He says, "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)". The Prophet (ﷺ) taught that calling on God (dua) is itself worship. So a Muslim speaks to the Judge directly, at any hour, in any place.
Abu Huraira reports the Prophet (ﷺ) saying that angels come to people in turns by night and by day, and meet at the Fajr and Asr prayers. Those who stayed the night go up, and Allah asks them, though He knows everything about His servants, in what state they left them. They say that they left them praying and found them praying.
“And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! they are (but) servants raised to honour. They speak not before He speaks, and they act (in all things) by His Command. He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, and they offer no intercession except for those who are acceptable, and they stand in awe and reverence of His (Glory).”
“When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way.”
“And your Lord says: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer): but those who are too arrogant to serve Me will surely find themselves in Hell - in humiliation!"”
An-Nu'man ibn Bashir reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: supplication is worship. He then recited the verse in which Allah says: call on Me, I will answer you.
Each person carries his own record
Legge notes that the tract does not carry reward and punishment beyond death. What is not repaid in this life passes to a person's descendants. The Qur'an says each person carries his own record. "Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burdens", even a close relative. The full reckoning comes on the Day of Judgment, before God (﷾), who wrongs no one. So what you do matters for you, and the One to turn to is the One who will judge.
Legge says no one knows who wrote the Kan Ying Pien. He says it appears to have been written under the Song dynasty, and he refers it to the eleventh century. It is a popular tract, printed in countless editions. It sets out good and bad actions, describes how men's deeds are recorded and repaid, and closes by urging repentance. It does not carry reward and punishment beyond death: what is not completed in this life passes to a person's descendants.
“Nor can a bearer of burdens bear another's burdens if one heavily laden should call another to (bear) his load. Not the least portion of it can be carried (by the other). Even though he be nearly related. Thou canst but admonish such as fear their Lord unseen and establish regular Prayer. And whoever purifies himself does so for the benefit of his own soul; and the destination (of all) is to Allah.”
“Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: On the Day of Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll, which he will see spread open. (It will be said to him:) "Read thine (own) record: Sufficient is thy soul this day to make out an account against thee."”
“Allah is never unjust in the least degree: If there is any good (done), He doubleth it, and giveth from His own presence a great reward.”
Ministers of Heaven: an old argument the Qur'an answers
Many say the gods are officials of Heaven. A subject reaches the emperor through his ministers, so we reach the Highest through them. The Qur'an quotes this very argument: "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." It also quotes the words "These are our intercessors with Allah." And it answers with a question: "Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth?" God (﷾) needs no one to tell Him about His servants. "We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein." Islam does teach intercession, but it is God's (﷾) alone to grant: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession". No one intercedes "except as He permitteth". So a Muslim asks God (﷾) Himself, even for intercession.
“Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.”
“They serve, besides Allah, things that hurt them not nor profit them, and they say: "These are our intercessors with Allah." Say: "Do ye indeed inform Allah of something He knows not, in the heavens or on earth?- Glory to Him! and far is He above the partners they ascribe (to Him)!"”
“It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.”
“Say: "To Allah belongs exclusively (the right to grant) intercession: to Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth: In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back."”
“Allah! There is no god but He,-the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).”
Those called on cannot answer or help
The Qur'an says of all who are invoked besides God (﷾), "have not the least power". It says that "if they were to listen, they cannot answer your (prayer)". It says that those people call on are "servants like unto you". The Qur'an says no prophet would tell people "to take angels and prophets for Lords and patrons". So the rule is for everyone: "invoke not any one along with Allah". Every Muslim says it in each prayer: "Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek." Asking a living person for help in what he can do is different, and it is fine.
“He merges Night into Day, and he merges Day into Night, and he has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law): each one runs its course for a term appointed. Such is Allah your Lord: to Him belongs all Dominion. And those whom ye invoke besides Him have not the least power.”
“If ye invoke them, they will not listen to your call, and if they were to listen, they cannot answer your (prayer). On the Day of Judgment they will reject your "Partnership". and none, (O man!) can tell thee (the Truth) like the One Who is acquainted with all things.”
“Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you: Call upon them, and let them listen to your prayer, if ye are (indeed) truthful!”
“Nor would he instruct you to take angels and prophets for Lords and patrons. What! would he bid you to unbelief after ye have bowed your will (To Allah in Islam)?”
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
“Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.”
With respect, not insult
Islam does not mock the temple gods, or Guanyin, Mazu or Lord Lao. The Qur'an tells Muslims, "Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah". Islam's point is about worship, not about the people who pray at temples. Worship, prayer and offerings belong to God (﷾) alone. The answer is the same for every figure honoured in a temple. It is also the same for a Muslim who calls on anyone but God (﷾).
“Revile not ye those whom they call upon besides Allah, lest they out of spite revile Allah in their ignorance. Thus have We made alluring to each people its own doings. In the end will they return to their Lord, and We shall then tell them the truth of all that they did.”
“"And the places of worship are for Allah (alone): So invoke not any one along with Allah;”
“Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.”
Called on as three
Some Taoists reply that these gods are not beside the Tao (the Way). Lord Lao, one of the Three Pure Ones, is seen as the Tao in personal form. Yet the Three Pure Ones are called on as three, each by its own title. The Qur'an says, "Take not (for worship) two gods: for He is just One Allah". God (﷾) is "the One and Only", and "there is none like unto Him". Islam does not say the Tao is God. The page "Is the Tao the same as God?" shows what the Tao Te Ching says. In it the Tao never speaks to anyone, and no one is told to call on it. The One to call on is God, the Creator, who "is the One that hears and sees (all things)".
Pregadio writes that Laozi became a god under the name Laojun (Lord Lao) during the Han dynasty. In 165 and 166, rites were held for him at his supposed birthplace, and in 166 Emperor Huan held a ceremony in his honour in the imperial palace. As a god, Lord Lao is described as personifying the Dao (the Tao). The supreme Taoist gods are the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), each ruling one heaven; one of them, Daode tianzun, is another name of the deified Laozi. The wider pantheon includes people of the past who were made gods, such as Mazu, a woman of the late tenth century honoured as the protector of sailors.
“Allah has said: "Take not (for worship) two gods: for He is just One Allah: then fear Me (and Me alone)."”
“Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.”
“(He is) the Creator of the heavens and the earth: He has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does He multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things).”
The door that stays open
The tract ends by calling people to repent, and Islam calls them to repent too. It tells them to whom: "Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins". Good deeds wipe out bad ones. For those who repent, believe and do good, God (﷾) changes their bad deeds into good. No spirit's favour is needed, because God (﷾) Himself forgives. The door is open to anyone who turns to God (﷾), today.
Legge says no one knows who wrote the Kan Ying Pien. He says it appears to have been written under the Song dynasty, and he refers it to the eleventh century. It is a popular tract, printed in countless editions. It sets out good and bad actions, describes how men's deeds are recorded and repaid, and closes by urging repentance. It does not carry reward and punishment beyond death: what is not completed in this life passes to a person's descendants.
“Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
“And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night: For those things, that are good remove those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):”
“Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,”
Islam's answer: a way of life with God (﷾) at its centre
Islam is a deen, a complete way of life: belief, worship, family and character together. In it, prayer goes straight to God (﷾), five times a day and at any moment of need. The page "What is Islam?" shows it in one place. The Qur'an asks you to test it: if you doubt it is from God (﷾), produce a chapter like it. It says the Prophet (ﷺ) was sent to all people, and calls him the Seal of the Prophets, the last of them. Read the Qur'an, and ask whether it is from the Lord of the Worlds.
“This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.”
“O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.”
“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.”
“Say: "O men! I am sent unto you all, as the Messenger of Allah, to Whom belongeth the dominion of the heavens and the earth: there is no god but He: it is He That giveth both life and death. So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet, who believeth in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided."”
“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things.”
Point by point
Qur'an 39:3 — Surat al-Zumar (The Groups), verse 3
“Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due? But those who take for protectors other than Allah (say): "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah." Truly Allah will judge between them in that wherein they differ. But Allah guides not such as are false and ungrateful.”
Cited for
We do not worship the gods instead of Heaven. They are Heaven's ministers, and they carry our prayers upward.
The response
The Qur'an quotes the same argument: "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah" (39:3). Its answer is that God (﷾) needs no ministers. He is "nearer to him than (his) jugular vein" (50:16). Intercession is God's (﷾) alone to grant (39:44). He says, "I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me" (2:186).
Where it lands — God (﷾) hears every caller Himself. Intercession is His to grant, not something won by praying to others.
"Religious Daoism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Pregadio writes that Laozi became a god under the name Laojun (Lord Lao) during the Han dynasty. In 165 and 166, rites were held for him at his supposed birthplace, and in 166 Emperor Huan held a ceremony in his honour in the imperial palace. As a god, Lord Lao is described as personifying the Dao (the Tao). The supreme Taoist gods are the Three Pure Ones (Sanqing), each ruling one heaven; one of them, Daode tianzun, is another name of the deified Laozi. The wider pantheon includes people of the past who were made gods, such as Mazu, a woman of the late tenth century honoured as the protector of sailors.
Cited for
Lord Lao, one of the Three Pure Ones, is the Tao in personal form, so we do not worship gods beside the Tao.
The response
The Three Pure Ones are called on as three, each by its own title. The Qur'an says, "Take not (for worship) two gods: for He is just One Allah" (16:51). The One to call on is God, "the One and Only" (112:1), who hears every caller (2:186). In the Tao Te Ching the Tao never speaks, and no one is told to call on it.
Where it lands — Worship is for the One God (﷾) who hears every caller, not for three titles.
Kan Ying Pien §2 — SBE 40, p. 236
“There also are the three Spirits of the recumbent body which reside within a man's person. As each kang-shan day comes round, they forthwith ascend to the court of Heaven, and report men's deeds of guilt and transgression. On the last day of the moon, the spirit of the Hearth does the same.”
Cited for
The spirits report our faults to Heaven, so we must keep them on our side.
The response
Islam agrees that every deed is written down (50:17-18). But the Judge is God, who knows without a report. No one needs to win over the recorders. God (﷾) says, "Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins" (39:53). Good deeds wipe out bad ones (11:114).
Where it lands — The record is kept, and the way to face it is repentance to God (﷾), not favour with the recorders.
Qur'an 16:53 — Surat al-Nahl (The Bee), verse 53
“And ye have no good thing but is from Allah: and moreover, when ye are touched by distress, unto Him ye cry with groans;”
Cited for
The gods have answered my prayers, so they must be real helpers.
The response
Islam does not deny that good came to you. It says every good thing is from God (﷾): "ye have no good thing but is from Allah" (16:53). He gives to all people, "These as well as those" (17:20). So thank the One who gave it, and call on Him directly: "Call on Me; I will answer your (Prayer)" (40:60).
Where it lands — Every good that came was from God (﷾), so Islam asks you to call on Him alone.
Perspectives
Taoist: honouring the gods of Heaven's court
Religious Taoism honours the Three Pure Ones, the Jade Emperor and Lord Lao in its temples. Its morality books teach that deeds are recorded and repaid. It sees Lord Lao, one of the Three Pure Ones, as the Tao in personal form.
The gods are officials of Heaven. As one reaches an emperor through his ministers, we reach the Highest through them.
Rebuttal
The Qur'an quotes this very argument: "We only serve them in order that they may bring us nearer to Allah" (39:3). God (﷾) needs no ministers. He is "nearer to him than (his) jugular vein" (50:16). Intercession belongs to God (﷾) alone (39:44).
The Three Pure Ones are not gods beside the Tao. Lord Lao, one of them, is the Tao itself in personal form.
Rebuttal
They are still called on as three, each by its own title. The Qur'an says, "Take not (for worship) two gods: for He is just One Allah" (16:51). Islam does not call the Tao God (﷾). The One to call on is God, who hears and sees (42:11; 112:1-4).
Spirits record our deeds and report them to Heaven, so a wise person avoids wrongdoing and does good.
Rebuttal
Islam agrees that every deed is written (50:17-18). But the Judge is God, who hears every caller directly (2:186). The way to face the record is to turn to Him: He forgives whoever repents (39:53).
Chinese tradition: asking the temple gods for help
Many people go to the temple to ask the gods for help in daily life. Some of those honoured, such as Mazu, were people of the past.
Some of those honoured in the temples, such as Mazu, were people of the past. Asking them for help is like asking a respected elder.
Rebuttal
Asking a living elder for what he can do is fine. Calling on anyone absent for what only God (﷾) can give is worship (1:5). Those called on besides God (﷾) are "servants like unto you" (7:194).
The Islamic perspective
Pray to God (﷾) alone, and call on Him directly. Islam agrees that deeds are recorded, and says the Judge is God, who hears every caller. Those called on besides Him cannot answer or help.
Calling on God (﷾) is worship, and God (﷾) invites everyone to call on Him directly.
Angels record every deed, and each person meets his own record before God (﷾).
The Qur'an quotes the argument from go-betweens and answers it. God (﷾) knows His servants, and all intercession is His to grant.
Those invoked besides God (﷾) cannot answer or help, so no one is invoked along with Him.
Muslims must not revile what others call on; the rule concerns worship, not insult.